Summary: "Who makes you moan? Who makes you scream in pleasure and joy? I. Fucking. Do. What's mine is mine and sharing isn't an option I'd even have the idiocy to consider."
After the Grand Magic Games, Juvia Lockser took time to reflect on her life – including Gray Fullbuster. Something she wouldn't have done on her own since she was always caught up in her fantasy. It hurt like a bitch to realize that a one-sided love would never be returned, it truly did. And moving on was even harder to do. But still, Juvia swore to do so. Somehow, there's a way for everything.
Genre: Drama/Friendship.
Disclaimer: To say that Fairy Tail belongs to me is pure fantasy. Hiro Mashima remains the creator and has all the rights.
/!\ Warning: This fan-fiction has tons of smut and I won't tell when and where you'll read them in those chapters. I'm unpredictable, huh! Minors have been warned and if you're caught off guard...remember that this fan-fiction is rated M. Read the summary carefully before launching yourself on this story.
… In which Juvia Lockser and Sting Eucliffe are almost caught in the act by Lucy Heartfilia who, for some reason, needed to borrow some sugar to bake a cake – since when does she bake?
… In which the two lovers find out that she had been having some visitors in her apartment while being away, decide to get 'revenge' on one of the intruders.
… And in which Lucy may end up helping Gray Fullbuster to fix the damages of his friendship with Juvia (all the while claiming that she doesn't know anything about the Water Mage's relationship with Laxus Dreyar.) or not.
[I was listening to Bed of J Holiday and a remix of the original song with Nina Sky while writing this smutty chapter. Hihi. Please do it as well, guys! And listen to these songs through the whole smut, please, for they'll serve!]
Chapter Four: The Apartment
Her taste. Her body. Her scent. Her kisses. Her moans. Her screams. Her glazed eyes, clouded with lust and trust. Her writhing under his ministrations, completely at his mercy. The way she moaned his name. The way she produced those amazing sounds when his tongue tasted and teased the inside of her hot cavern. The way she grabbed his hair roughly when both his tongue and fingers played with her bundle of nerves. The way she bucked her hips into his mouth. Her long thighs around his hips. Her fingers dancing in his back, drawing circles of fire on his skin. Her teeth biting his flesh. Her tongue tasting and marking his skin. The way she moaned when he bit and licked the mating mark all over again. The way she stared at him with those hazed eyes, her face flushed from the heat. The way her tongue and hot mouth tortured his searing member. The way her heartbeat became erratic when his lips ghosted over her the swell of her full breast. The way she told him she was completely his.
Sting Eucliffe loved it all.
It was unbearingly hot in the bedroom but, as long as the Dragon Slayer could enjoy his blue-haired siren to the fullest, the heat didn't matter. Pinning Juvia under his body he savoured her, his fangs sinking into the flesh of her neck where he had left his mark to show everyone who this woman belonged to and his hands imprisoning hers, their fingers intertwined above their heads. His hips were rolling slowly, yet roughly against hers in a steady pace that made the Water Mage sigh and moan in pleasure – a lovely music to his ears only. His grunts sometimes turned to hoarse moans when Juvia would roll her wide hips to taunt him and he would respond in kind, making his woman whimper. Sting wanted to do it slow and torturing for the both of them, yet painfully delicious and sensual at the same time because he knew that Juvia will definitely make herself clear; teasing her always managed to drive her crazy with lust, which in turn obliged his blue-haired vixen to take command and reverse their positions. Then, she would move and roll her hips in such sensual, magnificent way that made her enthralling in his eyes. His hands would grab her waist to guide her in the movements, digging into the flesh of her ass when sliding downward, his mouth slightly open where moans and curses would escape his lips.
But he wanted a change – another position. Still keeping his lips and teeth latched onto her skin, Sting gathered Juvia in his arms and stood from the bed, making his way toward the living-room. This sudden movement made her wrap her legs tightly around his hips on reflex, but she didn't question his actions – she had grown accustomed to it over their trysts and all the crazy things they had done. And she loved it all. Juvia soon felt the cool fabric of the sofa when she was parked against it on her rear, which made her shiver in anticipated pleasure; Sting's hot breath ghosted over her ample chest for a few seconds as she threw her head back in ecstasy, teasing and predatory-like, before diving in and his teeth bit the right puckered nipple. She gasped as he sucked on it harshly while one hand was fondling the neglected breast and the other was working between her legs, fingers pumping in and out slowly to create an agonizingly incredible rhythm that would do well on them. For some time. Sting groaned when he found Juvia so wet. Wet for him. Only. Him.
"You've gotten wet and ready so quickly, Siren," the blonde murmured against her nipple, grazing it with his fangs once more and giving it a huge lick before meeting her lips without kissing them. Their breaths mingled, erratic and hot, before they both closed the distance for a bruising, steamy kiss that made them feel the same myriad of sensations between them. Sting grabbed her left leg and hooked it around his hip to get closer to her steaming body, caressing the guild stamp sensuously. He groaned contentedly as he grounded his hips against Juvia's, making her moan loudly and grip a handful of his blonde hair. The Dragon Slayer purred, smirking. "You must have been thinking about me, right? That link... it's amazing, isn't it? Your emotions are just as mine as mine are yours." He stared at her intently between half-lidded, lustful eyes that had darkened minutes ago; her cheeks were flushed from the heat and pleasure he was giving to her, her lips were parted and swollen from the harsh kissing and her eyes were glazed with desire. Enchanting sight. The blonde put his forehead on hers, caught her inferior lip between his teeth to bite, suck and lick it.
"Mmh...," Juvia just moaned, her eyes closing on their own. She wrapped her arms around his neck to bring him even closer, her fingers entangled in his golden locks. The blue-haired beauty moved her hips in synch with his, deciding to entice Sting as well; since he had come all the way here from Sabertooth, had been soaked by the rain, it was only fair that they should be doing this. She had missed him way too much to tell him to go and she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He growled lowly, his member throbbing and aching to be inside her heated core. "It sure is," she managed to whisper, once he had released her lip. She traced one hand on the muscles of his arm, caressing the limb with care and relishing in sensing him shiver under her touch. "W-where is Lector?"
He took the time to lick her her lips, from the bottom up. Very slowly. She bit back another moan, shivering in ecstasy. The feeling itself made her toes curl. "Off with Frosch and Rogue somewhere in Magnolia. I don't care right now, Siren. You. And I. Need to mate. Right now." he stated huskily, already leaning down for another kiss.
The kiss was slow and sensuous, their tongues battling for dominance over the other. How long has it been since they last kissed like this? The last tryst had been both wild and hot because they had let their instincts take over – Sting had definitely preferred it that way. Rough sex between a Dragon Slayer and his mate was grandiose once they were joined together; the sensations that would overwhelm them were always powerful enough to make them forget about the whole world around them, it would just be the two of them. Sting and Juvia, no one else. It was just that enthralling – a sort of hypnotic spell cast upon the two mages so that they would only care about each other. Some would say it was love since that feeling made everything in a relationship better and somehow greater during sex but, between a Dragon Slayer and his mate, it was much deeper and complexed in a way that words wouldn't be enough to explain. Actions spoke so much louder. So when Sting penetrated his woman in one thrust of his hips, he felt his whole body burn in a familiar explosion of delicious sensations that made him growl in pleasure, exactly in synch with Juvia as she cried out upon feeling her lover inside. They both closed their eyes to savour the moment, their features relaxed in an expression of pure ecstasy. Joined together, they felt whole. Joined together, they felt right and as if they didn't need anything else right now. Joined together, they felt each other's bright, burning emotions. Joined together, they could listen to their souls singing their union.
Grandiose. Delicious. Insanely good. Perfect and right.
"Sting," Juvia breathed, hooking her other leg to secure her body around him. Her tone was pleading and she couldn't help but roll her hips against him, lips kissing his urgently. He responded in kind, gathering her once again in his arms to head back toward the bedroom – he didn't need to look where he was going, he knew by instinct. He'd been here enough times to walk around the apartment with his eyes closed. The need was becoming too ardent to be kept inside; the Water Mage needed – wanted to be claimed by her mate. Her thoughts and soul were expressing themselves for her, like a hungry beast that needed to be satisfied until complete exhaustion. "Sting, I –"
He gritted his teeth as he slammed her onto the bed, crushing her soft and perfect body against his muscled one. He hiked one long, slender leg over his shoulder, breathing hard, and thrust fiercely forward. Juvia screamed in pleasure, jolting in his embrace and digging her nails into the flesh of his back. The Dragon Slayer knew, he was aware of their mutual need because it was burning with such ferocious intensity inside of him as well that he thought he was going to explode. It was almost painful, because she felt so damn good. As if the dragon inside him had been released from its broken chain, Sting pounded hard into Juvia, one hand around her hip to keep her in check and the other wrapped around the leg on his shoulder. The bedroom was filled with lustful, harsh groans and loud growls, hungry moans and screams from both mates, wrapped in their haze of lust and joy. Soon he slid a hand toward Juvia's cerulean hair, grabbed a handful of it and pulled her into a soul-devouring kiss, to which she answered very eagerly with equal violence and passion.
It was maddening. Mind-shattering. But perfect. Sting was barely able to pick up the terrifying rumbling of thunder outside as his tryst with his mate invaded all the corners of his mind; his hips were snapping harshly back and forth against hers, grinding hard. His balls were slapping teasingly against her wet folds – a sensation thrice more wonderful that made him groan contentedly at each powerful thrust – and as his shaft seemingly buried itself deeper and deeper, he felt a burning heat submerging his whole being. It was like a fire was ablaze in the center of his chest, strong and still building up. He loved it. Sting released Juvia's swollen, pouting lips in time to watch her arch against his body and throw her head back, a lustful scream of pleasure escaping her throat as he hit a certain spot. Gods, she was beautiful like this. He feverishly licked and bit her neck, his blue eyes now resembling dark pools of lust and possessiveness. She was his.
He knew she was close, her walls were tightening around his searing shaft. The blonde clenched his fangs, grunting. Soon she would cum and see thousands of stars, her eyes gleaming in glee and swirling in crazy lust. That was a sight Sting truly longed to see on his lovely blue-haired mate. But he was far, far from satisfied and he knew Juvia would want him again as much as he wanted to ravish her again – he would keep his woman with him in this bedroom if need be, drive her to a fever pitch as many times as possible with his insane stamina. All friends coming to disturb them be damned. You just don't disturb a moment between a Dragon Slayer and his mate, unless you must have some kind of wicked death wish. The thought alone triggered his possessive side and he roared as his pace suddenly quickened, becoming even more violent. The reaction was instantaneous; Juvia jolted once again, her swollen and red breasts bouncing at each thrust (he truly bit her almost everywhere, he noted with dark satisfaction and a cocky smirk. Good.) and screaming lewdly. The bed rocked with them, hitting the wall as the blonde Dragon Slayer pounded like the hungry beast he was into his mate.
"Sting!" Juvia's voice laced with lust and need was a lullaby to his keen ears. She was holding onto his shoulders, her nails deeply dug in his skin so that she was scratching him. That was fine; the pain was part of this pleasure between them and rough, fiery sex would always ensure. Always. This was how they liked it – loved it.
Sting gave her a particularly strong thrust of his hips and she screamed again, one hand flying to his blonde locks and pulling at it. His smirk was feral, her skin between his sharp teeth. "I know, Siren," he murmured huskily to her, squeezing the reddening skin with enough force to leave yet another mark. "And I'm just getting started." With that he slowly licked the mating mark, intent on biting it once again. It was just so hot and instinctive to do that for him, Sting wanted nothing but mark his territory over here – on his woman and her only. "Tell me you want me, Siren." It was practically a command he was now used to say, because having control over his mate was just damn exciting. He was controlling everything, her body was only responding to him and would only long for him. Blissful.
When she moaned his name Sting had to fight the urge to dominate, to possess. She was close, so close to her first climax that it was so tempting to slow down right now. But even he wasn't stupid enough to do something like that, especially when he had no intention of doing so and was on the verge of cumming. The blonde let out a groan as he humped her hard, snapping his hips against hers and making his woman squeal loudly.
"Tell. Me." This one was a demand, enhanced by his bite on her skin.
"Yes! Oh yes, Sting!" Juvia cried out both lewly and joyously, arching tightly against him as she finally reached her peak. Sting literally purred when his hot seed shot out inside her as she milked him, one of the most extraordinary sensations they both enjoyed together in their carnal embrace. Their hearts beating in synch they still remained joined, the blonde never stopping his wild thrusts and craving more of his delicious bluenette.
He took the time to breathe when he began to move lazily in her, his heartbeat wild and erratic, putting his forehead against Juvia's. They stared at each other in silence, longing in their eyes and their breaths mingling together. Sweat covered Sting's brow and his back, his skin itching because of Juvia's nails raking it when she was lost in pleasure. Once again the blue-haired vixen found herself staring at him, awed; he was sparkling, as if he had been lit up with a dozen of lamps – no, stars. Her breath hitched in her throat and, without thinking straight, lifted a hand to caress his illuminated face. This gesture left the Sabertooth mage quite startled, but in a pleasant way, so he leaned into her palm to enjoy the feeling, blue eyes closing in bliss. It was both nice and comforting to feel her softness after such a violent, passionate tryst. Sting Eucliffe loved it as well.
Juvia smiled, blushing. It probably would take her some time to admit it, but she loved seeing him like this; when he wasn't looking at her with those lustful, blue eyes, he truly looked beautiful and handsome in a calm state – such as this one. He had this relaxed expression plastered on his face, his mouth curled into one of his grins she was now familiar were those who were cocky and mocking, wry and grim. But this one...
This one was filled with happiness. Because they were reunited once again. Because she was in his arms once again. And that alone was enough to make her heart swell in pride and joy. Juvia smiled widely and pressed her lips to his, her other arm snaking around his neck to hug him tightly.
Sting smiled, elated. "I'm not finished with you, Siren," he whispered, his voice low and husky. He bit her lips lightly, enough to earn a soft gasp, then pulled away after a kiss. "If you'd be so kind to let me show you how much I missed you since our last encounter, you wouldn't be able to walk straight for a week." The blonde released her leg on his shoulder and straightened up a little bit, pulling Juvia along with him.
She breathed slowly, shifting her sore legs so that he could sit up on the bed. Damn, he hadn't been gentle! But was she going to complain when she had missed him as much as he had been craving her presence? She also had been craving his touch, his kisses, his body – everything about him. It must be the bond's doing between them; it must be this strong to make her feel like a desperate, sexually frustrated woman when he wasn't around. Juvia sighed happily as she was flushed tightly against Sting's hard, hot body; since she was caged in his arms her ample bosoms rested against his chest, her pert nipples brushing against his hot skin. Naked and flushed after this first round, Sting had her all hot and ready for him. She nestled her head in his neck, breathing in his scent. Her mate had a manly scent she couldn't really describe – it was a mix between musk and eau de Cologne. A heavenly scent to her nose. She could drown herself into breathing it.
"Mmmh... there must be something else we can do together. I'm feeling quite... mischevious and naughty. What do you think, Sting?" she asked, her hands caressing his strong back and muscles tenderly. He purred happily, tightening his hold around her and his lips latching onto her skin. Juvia closed her eyes in bliss, her breathing quickening just a little. "But I still don't know what we should do, besides having sex."
The blonde Dragon Slayer nipped her neck. "Am I rubbing off on you, Siren? If that's the case, then I'd be more than happy to do anything with you, as long as we stay together. And even if it's sex, let me just make you scream more until we finally get tired," he added with a suggestive, slow thrust of his hips against her.
Since they were still joined together she moaned, throwing her head back. Sting chuckled darkly, following her movement so that his teeth could tease her tender skin; one of his hands trailed up toward her cerulean hair, grabbed a handful of her locks to hold her like this. His bites and licks now trailed downward, toward her generous cleavage. "I truly think you are," Juvia breathed, a soft smile touching her plump lips. "Otherwise I wouldn't be trying to get you to do something."
"I'm flattered," he hummed as he kissed the mating mark, his eyes closed. "And I have an idea."
"Oh?"
He smirked. "Yeah. But for now, we've got better things to do." His back hit the mattress and he allowed Juvia to straighten herself so she could look at him, her gaze inquiring. He winked, his smirk widening in a mysteriously suspicious way. "You feeling quite naughty and mischevious at the same time is a good thing, since it fits in my plans just right." Sting placed his hands on her hips, his blue eyes now drawn to her tantalizing breasts. Gods, Fate had brought him the perfect woman. Where had she been all this time? It took him all his will to look up at Juvia's doe eyes and not ravish her on the spot once again, because his body was already hardening for it. "Nah, I won't tell you right now," he quickly said as she was about to ask him something and he snickered upon seeing her pout, amused. "Don't worry, you'll like it."
And he was sure she will because, after all this time spent together to learn more about each other since Sting had discovered she was his mate, he had found out a lot about Juvia Lockser of Fairy Tail; other than the facts that she was quite the cordon bleu and the very loyal friend toward the brute that was Gajeel, she was a very creative person with an imagination almost unlimited – he had had the proof with all their trysts – and someone who could be twisted when you upset her. And if there was one thing Sting was sure, it was the fact that she'll get irritated if he told her about the scents he had picked up in her apartment – usually he would sense his and hers, since they mostly were the only ones (except Gajeel and PantherLily, but he had yet to confront him about that.) to be here but this time, he had been quite surprised. Not angry, but unpleasantly surprised.
He almost snorted, feeling both annoyed and irritated somehow. Nosy people. He really despised them; Sting had picked up four different scents when he had entered Juvia's apartment by the window earlier and since none of them belonged to a male he knew or didn't know – he would have hunted down the crazy idiot who could have touched or ogled Juvia's body to skin him alive –, the blonde Dragon Slayer had concluded they belonged to women. Two of these four women he had encountered with Lector, Rogue and Yukino while searching for Frosch all around Crocus had penetrated his mate's environment, their scents were all over the place. Even though Juvia's wonderful scent only invaded his sense of smell because it was the one that mattered to him, the intruders had spiked his interest. And his twisted side to get revenge on them for trying to pry on his beloved mate. Sting had recognized two of his next targets.
One smelled like strawberries, the other had more of a floral scent.
He decided that getting revenge on the former would be much more fun than the latter – since she literally was a monster hidden inside the shape of a woman. The Grand Magic Games had given him a well-known fact about Titania Erza; her strength was not to be underestimated and if he and Juvia were to 'get revenge' on her by following his plans, Sting wasn't sure if he would be enough to protect his mate from her ire. But the one with the strawberry scent would be his victim, no matter what. No one should be trying to discover their relationship for now, even if this woman was a dear friend of Juvia.
Speaking of mates... he focused back on his blue-haired vixen sitting on him, who had been watching the clouded sky and thunder with a soft smile. Somehow the rumbling hadn't disturbed them during the whole passionate embrace, nothing more than just a background noise. The rain hadn't stopped either, still as strong as earlier. He remembered Juvia saying that Gray Fullbuster had taken the rain away from her when he had defeated her back in the days Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail had been engulfed in their feud and since she had been able to see the sun for the first time in a very long while, she had immediately loved him. Such fact coming out from her lips had awoken his strong, possessive side and what had followed next had been lots of rough sex because one jealous Sting Eucliffe had wanted to mark his mate Juvia Lockser once more and make her scream his name so many times. And now... now there was him. Him and only him, Sting Eucliffe, in her life. Gray Fullbuster wouldn't be a threat anymore, he was sure of that. But he was certain that drama will befall them one day, since their lives as mages were always hectic; Minerva Orland was still out somewhere, along with her father. While he still hadn't forgiven that piece of trash for trying to kill Lector, the blonde Dragon Slayer was convinced that his daughter wasn't as evil as she pretended to be. He'd look for her with his partner later but right now, right now... he desired his woman. Smirking Sting reached out, snaking a hand on the back of her neck to stroke it slowly with his fingers, which earned him her attention back on him instantly. Her smile widened and her eyes gleamed when she stared at him.
"Come here, Siren," he murmured huskily before pulling her down to him.
Juvia happily complied; she fell flat against him as they kissed feverishly, fire igniting their desire once again. She felt his other hand caress the skin of her back down to her backside, making her shiver and arch against him. The gesture itself provoked an friction that sent burning and electric sensations through their nerves, earning a sharp intake of breath from Juvia and an erotic moan from Sting, who then cupped her ass with both hands. He flexed his fingers and dug his nails on her flesh, earning him a sigh of euphoria. He didn't even have to tell her to do what they both had in mind, his woman just acted on instinct; her hips began to rise up and down, slowly, very slowly, and she broke their mind-blowing kiss to pull back so that her movements could be more coordinated. Juvia held his scorching gaze with her own, hands flat on his well-built torso and his on her ass cheeks to guide her in her thrusts, her blue eyes blazing with desire. Her breaths soon morphed to moans, delicious music to his ears. Sting couldn't restrain his growls of pleasure, since his cock was throbbing inside her hot core. She was far too enticing.
"Gods, Juvia," he murmured, a throaty moan escaping his lips. Her riding him like this was one of his favorite positions of all, because he could admire her in all her shining beauty. Juvia looked magnificent under the only source light in the bedroom – the lightning splitting the sky – as it almost gave her a sinful appearance; the steam emanating from her body had her skin flushed, sweaty and hot, but that was his doing as well. Her breasts bounced at each thrust, taunting him to touch them and torture the buds a bit. "This is one helluva way to make up for all this time – ngh... – spent apart, even if it's just been days," Sting breathed in his hoarse voice, thrusting his hips forward. She let out a long moan, an ecstatic smile plastered on her face. "I'm not sure if I'll go back to Sabertooth right – fuck... – after this, it's just too tempting to stay – shit, Juvia... – in this bedroom with you – if the heavens agree with me, then I'm in." His heated gaze traveled all the way from her rising, wide hips to her face; her dark blue eyes were watching him with such an intense look, it was like she was burning a hole in his skull, but in a pleasant way. He smirked, holding her stare with his lustful one. "I want you confined in here with me, in this – holy shit... – bedroom, where I'll keep you up with thousands and thousands of naughty things. I'll make you scream, Juvia. I'll have you screaming my name over and over, until your throat is finally sore. I'll mark you all over again to draw the limits, to show the world who you belong to." Sting emphasized his words by thrusting slowly, but hard, drawing Juvia's loud and lewd moans, in synch with her own movements.
"Sting..." she said between two moans, her fingers curling around his muscled arms.
The blonde pulled himself up to her level, all the while caging Juvia in his arms and united with him. Sting sat up, allowing her to wind her own arms around his neck and press herself against him, and brought his woman to a short, yet rough kiss before murmuring against those plump lips he had grown to adore. "You're mine, Juvia. Not someone else's, even if somebody confesses to you. Mine!" he growled, snapping his hips quite harshly.
"Ah! Y-yes!" she cried out before Sting pulled her to meet his eager lips. The kiss was as passionate as slow, in synch with their lovemaking; their hips grinding together in slow motion, her ample and soft breasts rubbing against his chest in such a lewd way – it was enthralling. All their senses dulled by the force of their mutual need, Sting and Juvia couldn't care less of the world around them because they both had their own; private and intimate, tender and rough, their world could be anything when they wanted to exclude the others.
The Sabertooth Mage was about to increase the pace of his thrusts when there was a sound echoing not far from their position – a sound that Sting would have never thought to be this annoying and intolerable while he was having a well-deserved sex seance with his mate. And when he was hoping that Juvia hadn't heard the sound as well, he found himself growling at her stiffening form because she had stopped rolling her hips and had broken their kiss to turn toward the source of the annoyance, startled and stunned as well. Sting couldn't believe it.
Who the hell had the guts and a goddamn death wish to come and disturb them while they were in the middle of their second round?
"Juvia? Juvia, are you there?" a familiar feminine voice – very familiar to one Dragon Slayer's voice whose eyes widened in angry disbelief – called.
He couldn't believe it. Really? She had come here to cockblock him? Previously lustful eyes turned to stormy, furious blue orbs as they instantly lost their desire when they glared murderously at the door. Of all people in Magnolia –
"Who the hell –" the handsome blonde hissed in fury, though he already knew who was at the door. He just wanted Juvia to confirm his suspicions, so that he would seriously devise his plan to get back at the cockblocker.
"L-lucy," his blue-haired siren stammered, still stunned. She couldn't believe it either: what in the world could Lucy possibly want right now so that she had to interrupt them?
– that whining, annoying blonde Celestial Mage had to be the one to ruin everything? The only girl that had the most annoying voice at the moment since he couldn't tolerate her princess-like attitude? This really, really couldn't be happening. No. He thoroughly refused. Not right now. Lucy Heartfilia had succeeded in breaking the erotic, heated atmosphere between Sting and his mate – which was considered as a sacrilege to him, because there was the existing and dreading possibility that Juvia might not want to continue their sex séance after sending the spoiled princess away. The spell had been broken the second they had heard Lucy knocking on the door. Whatever the devil she wanted from Juvia now, she would have to pay for that. Sting would have to bring his woman back into their world to continue the sex séance, because there was no way – no absolute way – he was going to pleasure himself all alone while Juvia was here with him.
The blonde Dragon Slayer instantly tightened his hold on his woman when he felt her trying to get away from him. "No," he hissed bluntly. "Don't go to her. We're busy." His lips quickly latched onto the reddened skin on her slender neck, sucking and nipping on the mark he had created earlier.
She gasped, trying her best to swallow the moan that threatened to escape her lips. "A-ah, wait a second Lucy!" she called out to the blonde woman outside. Then she turned her attention toward Sting, who had begun to thrust once again as if to make her forget about her friend waiting. Juvia fought back the threatening sighs and moans of pleasure down her throat, because it was just so good – far too good to resist and give up on cumming. But she had to. "S-sting... I-I have to – mmmh... – Lucy...," she breathed lowly in vain, eyes closed in welcomed bliss.
"We're busy, Siren," he repeated in the same tone, restraining his mate against him easily. He pulled her to a rough kiss, uncaring of her protest.
Another knock on her door, hesitating this time. "Juvia? Sorry to bother you but I'm baking a cake and I forgot to buy some sugar before the storm hit. I'm sooooooooorry!" came Lucy's whining voice, making Sting cringe and groan in annoyance as he tried to focus hard on Juvia. "Erza isn't home and so isn't Levy, Mirajane told me that you've taken some vacation because of the success of your last mission with Gajeel, so I thought that maybe –"
Damn it. Sting growled very lowly in irritation as Juvia escaped him in her watery form, reappeared to snatch some random blouse and panties, hastily put them on while apologizing profusely to her glaring lover and then awkwardly dashed toward the front door, muttering about her sore legs and his stamina. The blonde grounded his teeth as he got up from the bed, a vein on his temple threatening to explode. Cockblocked. For some damn sugar for some damn cake. That Celestial chick was going to pay!
"Sorry, I was in the shower," Juvia panted at the door, surely flushed. "Let me get you the sugar for your cake."
Sting barely repressed a sigh as he heard the blonde squealing, taking a spot on the wall beside the bedroom door to listen to whatever the two had to say. "Yatta, you're the best Juvia-chan! I'll wait in the living-room if that doesn't bother you!"
"B-but..."
There were rushed footsteps toward the living-room, followed by Lucy's humming voice. Sting heard his mate sigh as she closed the door and then padded toward her kitchen. The guild master frowned. There was something in the blonde Celestial Mage's tone that displeased Sting and set him on edge; it was too cheerful, too bright. As if she intended to do something specific inside his mate's apartment. And considering the fact that her scent was nowhere near Juvia's heavenly smell, Sting wanted her gone in the next following minute so that he could get his blue-haired siren back to bed with him (and finish what that cheerleader had so rudely interrupted.). It appeared that Juvia had sensed Lucy's suspiciously happy tone as well:
"I didn't know you cooked, Lucy," Juvia said as she searched through her cupboard. "Let alone bake. I thought your hobby was writing. But didn't your housekeeper have some sugar? Why come all the way to Fairy Hills?"
Excellent question, my Siren, Sting thought with a scowl. The annoying blonde started to laugh, a bit awkwardly. "She didn't even want to see me today, guess she was somehow cranky because the storm kind of ruined her plans," Lucy replied, rolling her eyes. "Natsu, Happy and Gray pestered me for something to eat, so I just thought I could bake them a cake before sending them home. Always breaking in when I'm not looking, as if they had any right to do that. My house isn't their headquarters, for God's sake." She huffed in annoyance, clearly cranky. But then she seemed to recover as her tone went back to being cheerful when she addressed the Water Mage. "So Juvia, what have you been up to?"
Sting grounded his teeth, silently seething as he glanced at his throbbing and painful length. She was seriously trying to stay for more than one minute, wasn't she? Oh, we were in the midst of our second round of the long sex séance I'd planned for two or three whole days. Before you interrupted us for some fucking sugar! the Dragon Slayer mentally raged as he pinched the bridge of his nose, restraining himself from storming out of the bedroom at top speed and throwing the cockblocker out. That was a dangerous move, because that would uncover the whole mystery around his mate's newfound happiness with him – Sting was sure that Lucy Heartfilia was here to play spy, she reeked of mischeviousness and curiosity. Too much for someone who only came here for some sugar. And if he exposed himself, the cheerleader would certainly tell her three other conspirators what she had found out: Sting Eucliffe naked in Juvia's bedroom, still fighting his urges to ravish his blue-haired lover, and looking quite frightening with that murderous glare and that harsh scowl. And then there was Fairy Tail, protective of its members.
Bloody hell. Bloody hell, they would be annoying should they find out. Headaches, gossip and drama will follow once the cat's out of the bag – especially drama, Sting knew it. A couple formed by two Mages from rival guilds, how lovely.
"...say Juvia, wanna try my cake later when it's ready and the boys are out?" Lucy offered, cheerful. "Hopefully the storm will die out."
Sting couldn't believe it. Was she trying to take Juvia from him now? Was she playing strategy to get her to talk about them? How annoying. But when the young guild master heard her laugh and refusal, he couldn't hide his growing smirk (and the relief he was feeling as well because once Lucy was gone, he'd ravish his bluenette right on the floor. Screw the bed, she could ride him in the living-room.).
"The storm is lulling me to sleep," she yawned rather cutely. "But maybe if you still have some cake left, I'll have some. Thank you for your invitation, Lucy." Sting could tell she was smiling gratefully, yet he could feel her impatience. Juvia wanted her gone, as soon as possible. Right now. She wasn't going to fall for the trap that easy.
"You sure?" the blonde insisted, teasing. "It's dark chocolate, you know."
"Bribery won't work anymore, you know. It won't get you anywhere with me." It was Juvia's turn to be amused at the pouting Celestial Mage, who shrugged as she finally decided to leave with her sugar. "Don't forget to bring it back, Lucy!" she reminded with a big smile.
Then she closed the door with a sigh, eyes shut in relief. Close call. Too close for her liking; Lucy Heartfilia might be a friend but she was way too curious. The way she had bounced into her apartment was just too suspicious to actually think about forgetting that behaviour of hers, which had made Juvia wary and a little bit annoyed by this 'cheerfulness'. And the dark chocolate cake? Really? Did she truly just try to bait her into going to her place and eat her favorite cake? This was all too suspicious and Juvia was beginning to think that her blonde friend might be up to no good, she'd have to keep a close eye on Lucy. Just in case.
Warm, soft lips kissed the visible skin of her collarbone and she sighed once more, this time in pleasure. Her resistance melted when his hands started to flick open the buttons of her blouse and caress the creamy skin under with barely restrained hunger. Juvia shivered and threw her head back when Sting nipped at her neck, his fangs sinking into the flesh slowly. That bite alone was enough to create a new wave of heat all over her body, setting her nerves and senses ablaze; she panted, taking one of her lover's hand with her own to guide it under the lacy underwear toward her throbbing pussy. She bit back a throaty moan when two fingers circled her bundle of nerves slowly and jerked against his hard body, her ass grinding against his arousal. Sting growled pleasantly, his other arm wrapping her in a tight embrace.
They needed to finish this. Right now.
Juvia couldn't argue with him, she wanted him so much. She couldn't remember when they had moved back to the bedroom – Sting was damn fast when he was hungry, especially when it concerned her – or even when he had locked it but she could register this: Sting ripping her underwear with his teeth, Sting licking his way up to her lips to bring her to a fierce, fiery kiss, Sting slamming into her with an animalistic growl that made her scream in euphoria.
Sting bringing her to scream his name all day.
Her fingers danced on his back, caressing the muscles with an infinite softness and the most feathery touch that could calm down an angry boar, which made Sting quite sexually relaxed and peaceful; sprawled against Juvia with his face buried in her neck, his body situated between her legs that were still wrapped around his hips and his hands resting on her waist, the blonde Dragon Slayer felt in heaven. One hand was in his hair, stroking the golden locks with an affection that only a lover could have, which makes him purr in happiness like a cat; the sound was lovely to her ears and easily calmed the Water Mage, who wore a soft smile as she pressed a long, tender kiss on her mate's left temple. Long gone was his anger toward Lucy for interrupting them in the midst of their lovemaking, long gone was his aggressive, passionate behaviour that screamed lust and desire, now he was reduced to feline who was completely spent after hours of sex, purring and cuddling.
The storm had finally died out, leaving behind a heavily soaked Magnolia. The rumbling of thunder and the angry pitter-patter of the rain were gone, replaced by the peacefulness of the night; the moonlight was the only source of light in Juvia's bedroom, illuminating the two mates as they lay in slumber on their bed. The blue-haired woman smiled as she looked up at the round, perfect shape of the celestial body. She had always admired the whiteness of the moon, because it seemed so pure and impossible to tarnish. It also gave her strength, enhancing her magical powers.
Sting stirred a little, nuzzling his face against her skin. Pleasant shivers shook her body as he pressed his warm, soft lips on the skin of her neck. "Juvia? I've been wondering," he murmured, not taking his lips off.
"Yes?" she replied.
He chose his words carefully as he stated his question. "I know this is a bit sudden and crazy to even believe in the possibility of something this unthinkable happening one day but it's still possible. Should... something – anything – happen to Fairy Tail after one particular event, would you consider coming to Sabertooth and stay with me?" He lifted his head to look at her, his blue eyes serious and calm.
She halted, blinking owlishly at her mate.
Juvia had never, ever considered that possibility before, but then again, miracles were something that guild were used to – the majority of the members that had disappeared seven years ago on Tenrou Island and had come back was the most incredible miracle she had had the honour to witness. The black dragon Acnologia had been powerful enough to make the whole island and even though Mavis Vermilion, the first master of the guild, had used her magic to make everyone fall into deep slumber for seven years after the dreading fight with Grimoire Heart, Juvia had thought that she would have to say farewell to life forever as Acnologia's strength had been all but too powerful for everyone to match him. They had all come back from this nightmare but... there had been terrible consequences; seven years had gone by without them, their friends had moved on with their lives without thinking of the possibility – even the slightest – of them actually being alive. Juvia had seen, laughed, loved and lived with her new family. The very idea of that family breaking off had never crossed her mind and now that Sting had asked her if she would consider coming to Sabertooth and live with him, she had doubts.
But would Fairy Tail disband one day, just like Phantom Lord had after the feud with the fairies? Her former guild had crossed the limits with Fairy Tail, so it had just been justice. But her new guild had carried a whole era for so long – all masters and members had shown, when some were still alive, the strength of the fairies to those who had confronted them before vanishing. Juvia wasn't naive. All tales should come to an end, whether it should be bitter or beautiful. It would be a shame, because good things in life were hard to find and Fairy Tail had been the best thing that had ever happened to Juvia Lockser (after becoming best friends with Gajeel Redfox, of course.).
She shifted under Sting's scrutiny, frowning a little bit. "I... you know that wherever you go, I'll go, right?" He nodded, still staring. Juvia rolled them over and he didn't complain, allowing her to sit on his stomach. Her dark blue eyes looked down on him, conflicted. "I don't know if something like this will ever happen someday, Sting. And if it does happen, master Makarov will have his reasons to disband the guild and we won't protest. Fairy Tail had lived for so long and..." She blinked, unable to find the words to express herself.
Sting reached out to cup her face, his blue eyes searching. "And they all had become the family and friends you've been looking for," he finished for her, understanding. "I know, you told me about this the second time we met. I should be thankful toward Fairy Tail for accepting you in their ranks because, without them, I wouldn't have found you at all." This actually managed to bring a soft, yet happy smile to her face as she nodded, agreeing with him. He replied with his own smile, caressing her smooth cheeks with his thumbs, before regaining his calm and serious expression. "But Juvia, the idea of Fairy Tail disbanding one day might be possible: the circumstances won't certainly be the same as Phantom Lord in the past, but who knows what's going on in your master's mind? If there's something I've already understood as a guild master is the fact that I will do anything – absolutely anything – to protect all my friends and anyone who comes to harm them will face my wrath."
That was true. When Sting had thought that Lector had died by Jiemma's hand because of his loss against Natsu Dragneel during the Grand Magic Games, he'd acted on instinct and before he could even think properly, his beam of light had passed through his former cruel guild master. Sting had never felt so much pain and emptiness since Weisslogia, his dragon, had forced him to bathe in his blood after killing him; Lector meant so much to the blonde Dragon Slayer that the two of them had a deep 'father-son' like relationship or something akin to that. He valued their friendship almost above everything else. Now there was Juvia Locsker in his life.
This beautiful naiad had become someone far too precious for him to lose after accepting the fact that they were mates and the Gods know that Sting Eucliffe will bring mayhem and hell to anyone who would dare to hurt her. As a male tiger who would protect his female, the blonde Dragon Slayer wouldn't hesitate to wring someone's neck.
He was brought back to reality by Juvia's soothing voice. "Does that mean you're looking for... Minerva?" she asked hesitantly, even though she somehow knew the answer to that.
"We are," Sting confirmed, his voice gaining a sharp edge. "She might not consider us as her friends but she belongs to Sabertooth. She always has."
Shit. Maybe she should have expected this from her mate, considering the fact that Natsu's fight with him during the Grand Magic Games had beaten some serious sense in him. Juvia gulped down the insult that threatened to slip past her lips and closed her eyes, deep in thought. Of course Sabertooth would go after one lost member; with Sting Eucliffe as their master, they'd destroy mountains and mountains to get Minerva Orland back, even if that woman's behaviour and actions had hurt Lucy badly. Juvia had seen her psychotic and cruel side when she had mercilessly beaten her blonde friend during the Naval Battle and had been left horrified with a strong surge of cold fury and revenge. Now she might not know Minerva Orland's history but if her mate was thinking about getting her back, the least she could do was trust her judgement. However, she was a bit curious.
"Fairy Tail really has beaten some sense into you, huh?" Juvia said, opening her eyes to gaze at Sting with a soft, loving look.
He nodded, smirking. "Yeah. Thanks to Natsu-san, I've really understood what it means to care for friends and protect them. Asking Yukino to come back to the guild was my first step as vowing myself to change Sabertooth to the core." His smirk fell as he recalled the humiliation she had been the victim of before being excommunicated from their guild. "Our former guild master always preached strength above anything else, friendship was considered a weakness. And since he didn't tolerate weakness or failure, Yukino had paid the price of her loss against Kagura during the Grand Magic Games by being excommunicated in the worst way possible," he said, almost snarling in disgust, which made Juvia frown in confusion. "He had forced her to strip naked in front of everyone else before ordering her to erase her guild mark." Sting closed his eyes at his siren's shocked gasp and grounded his teeth. "Horrible, isn't it? Jiemma was... he almost killed Lector, Juvia. But Minerva saved him. I feel indebted to her for saving his life."
"So she might not be as psychotic and twisted as we thought, after all." Now she understood why Sting wanted to find the Mage and get her back in the guild. "So there's a chance, even the slightest, that Minerva might be a good woman behind that psychotic and sadistic side of hers."
Sting snickered at her choice of words, his hands coming to pinch the sides of her waist teasingly. She jolted, a short and surprised chortle escaping her lips. He always relished at the fact that she was ticklish. "My, what foul words you use to describe her personality. But I personally think she's not that bad, Siren. Her being Jiemma's daughter also means that she must have gone through a lot in her childhood." His face fell again as his mood soured. "If that man was already this demanding and cruel toward his own daughter, then the traumatism of being called weak and pathetic in front of him must still be damn strong. I'm sure that deep down, deep down, she is the total opposite. I'll prove it as my third step as the master of Sabertooth. It will be hard and long, but who am I to give up?"
Juvia stared at him, speechless and awed once again. Sting spoke with fire burning in his unmistakable blue eyes and his handsome face set onto a determined expression she had already seen on the night he had told her that he desired nothing more than become something she had always wished from Gray Fullbuster. This one night, he had made her heart beat in a way the Ice Mage had never been able to.
"You feel this pull, don't you? This powerful attraction between you and me, this constriction in your chest whenever you're getting further from me? I feel it as well, and it's incredibly painful not to be by your side. It will always be like this if we're not together. This connection will grow stronger once I've marked you as my mate and once it's done, you'll never feel rejected – this I promise. You told me about your unrequited love for the exhibitionist, it's high time you finally get to be loved by someone else who could make you taste happiness. We can't fight it; if Fate had long ago decided that you, Juvia Lockser, shouldn't be with Gray Fullbuster, then who are we to fight it? I'll make you feel loved – this I promise. I'll be yours, Juvia Lockser. I, Sting Eucliffe, will be yours. If you'd be mine."
Sting hadn't been lying that night when he said that he wanted her to be his; his burning eyes had spoken the truth when he had said those words – those same words the old Juvia Lockser would have infinitely killed to hear from Gray Fullbuster. This determination of his was so strong and true that she had been left stunned. In a very pleasant way, she might add. She chortled, feeling proud and cheerful.
"What?" Sting inquired, confused, as he blinked at her.
"I think you being master is a very good thing, then," Juvia said, smiling widely. Then she looked at him with those soft, sincere eyes that had him ensnared the second he had understood who she was to him. "You'll do a wonderful, kind guild master, Sting Eucliffe. I'm sure of it."
And this time, there was no cocky smirk. This time, there was no smug expression. This time, there was none of that pompous attitude from the former Sabertooth Mage who hadn't been beaten by Natsu yet.
This time, there was a real, broad smile on his face. And Juvia Lockser loved it all.
"I think it's a good idea. Blondie will never look at her apartment the same way again if we do this."
A chortle from his beloved mate, who looked at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. "That's your idea, Sting? When I told you that I was feeling mischevious and naughty, that wasn't exactly what I had in mind."
The blonde snickered, sending Juvia one of his cocky, lewd smirks. "Really baby, what kind of mischevious and naughty pranker do you take me for? You did say you felt both ways so..." He gestured to the whole room, never once taking his eyes off Juvia because damn, she looked so cute when she was flustered. "...voila! Let's do it here and now. No buts!" Sting bluntly said as he saw her open his mouth to protest. His smirk only widened when she pouted and he leaned in to press his forehead against hers, satisfied and proud of him. "You know you want it, Siren."
Her flushed face, dazed eyes and slender fingers caressing the bare skin of his stomach pretty much gave her away. And if she ever thought about escaping him, Sting knew he was faster.
Seconds later, two bodies were entangled in a passionate, heated embrace. The sounds of their lovemaking reverberating over the walls of the apartment. Revenge could mean so many things at a time but, if you were in Sting Eucliffe's shoes when he had been rudely interrupted in the midst of fucking his mate senseless, you would get revenge on the one who's nearly cockblocked you in the most unthinkable way, right? Especially when said cockblocker had a friend with a good nose.
Tuesday. And still no sign of a Water Mage around. This was starting to really get on Gray's nerves and though this was a situation he had played a major part in, he couldn't help but feel both irritated and heavily conflicted; he had tried to see her yesterday at her apartment and make her talk to him, but she wasn't home. Whether she was doing it on purpose just to get a reaction out of her absence or not, it was definitely working. The Ice Mage scowled as he slumped in his seat, his thoughts raging inside his head. He hadn't made any progress ever since Natsu had broken into his house to give him a pep talk – or rather mentally bitch-slap him – and since he was starting to open his eyes, the weight of Laxus' words struck him like thunder; the fact that Makarov's son had grown so much closer to Juvia than even Gray himself could have because he kept brushing her off irritated him to no end but who was he to be the one who was upset? He had pushed her away, was paying the price of it, and wanted to know everything concerning Juvia Lockser's whereabouts. Behind that lovesick and crazy behaviour of hers lay one of the kindest, selfless and caring personalities and while her antics may have been borderline exhausting and exasperating, the blue-haired woman had always been by his side. Always.
A lover would remain. A friend would remain. Had she not chosen to move on with her life, Juvia would have. She would have. But she wasn't here anymore and though she was still alive, her absence reminded him of Ur's disappearance because of him. Because he hadn't thought and acted like a man should have, maybe, maybe, she would have remained by his side. The fact that they hadn't talked to each other in weeks was painful; Laxus had made his blood boil by toying with his words without even giving him an actual answer and, though Gray's stubbornness forced him to think that the Lightning Mage was bluffing, there could be something going on between him and Juvia. Was she with Laxus right now? Was she 'relaxing' with him?
Jealousy. What an ugly, bitchy feeling for someone who wasn't in love. Gray was 100% sure that he didn't harbour romantic feelings toward the Water Mage and while it may not be love, the Ice Mage still cared deeply about her. A lot. While Lucy and Natsu may think that something was going on between Laxus and Juvia, the dark-haired man wouldn't have any of it – he'd deny it in his last breath, just like he'd deny having feelings for the bluenette. So whatever the hell that 'secret relationship' truly was, the Lightning Mage and his former stalker were going to great lengths to hide it; as confusing as it seemed, neither Erza or Cana were close to finding out. Moved on with Laxus Dreyar, he thought bitterly, gritting his teeth at Makarov's grandson's name as if it were something vile.
"Stop brooding, will you?" Gray heard Lucy's voice chastising him. He grunted, not bothering to look up. "And don't strip into my apartment, pervert!"
"Shit!" he cursed out loud, standing to retrieve his scattered clothes – how had he stripped down to his boxers without him noticing anything? Damn. Ur's teachings had been this incredible to turn him into a major exhibitionist and there was nothing he could do about it.
Lucy gazed at Gray, silent as he put his clothes back on. He may not show it because he had long mastered the air of indifference around others but she could see he was suffering in silence; Juvia's absence was finally doing its number on him and the fact that there was a so-called 'secret relationship' between the blue-haired woman who used to be in love with him and Laxus Dreyar must have caught him off guard. So off guard that he hadn't seen everything coming. Her blue-haired naiad friend just kept eluding him like water, never willing to give Gray a second of her attention and always keeping close to her best friend, who was ready to scalp him and break his neck should he try to approach Juvia. Lucy's heart went out to him and she truly wanted to help the Ice Mage, but when she'd open her mouth to say something, Natsu's harsh words kept reverberating in her mind.
"That's between him and Juvia, Luce. I've already taken my turn to beat some sense into that thick skull of his and give him a reality wake-up call and I'm not going there. Ever. Again. Juvia's moved on and she's better now, you all saw that. He finds it weird that she left his side? Don't make me laugh, he's been glad. He's suffering from her absence now? Bloody funny, because Juvia's been suffering far longer than he has and now she's all smiles. Thanks to whoever must make her smile, because she needs it. Don't care if it's Laxus, as long as our friend doesn't cry anymore because of Gray's stupidity and stubbornness. And don't you try giving the stripper bastard tips to fix the damages of his friendship with Juvia, Luce! I can see that coming. Gray should be doing this on his own, without our help."
Maybe Natsu was right. Maybe the Ice Mage really did deserve that kind of ignorance from the Water Mage but, as always, Lucy Heartfilia couldn't just ignore a friend's silent pain. She was too kind-hearted to do that. The blonde would have to apologize to the pink-haired Salamander for breaking her promise.
She sighed as she took a seat on the chair of her desk. "You look miserable," she commented.
Gray snorted. "Is it that obvious?" he replied sarcastically, slumping back into his chair.
"You miss her." It was said as a statement.
The twitch on his right eye certainly never went unnoticed by Lucy's brown orbs, who softened considerably. While he could keep lying to himself and deny that he didn't miss Juvia's presence, she could see the proof with her own eyes; Gray was scowling and ever since she had found him in her living-room this afternoon wearing nothing but his underwear, he had never ceased to frown darkly. Maybe she should help him in this matter concerning Juvia (without having a slip of tongue concerning her discovery at Juvia's place. Didn't want her apartment frozen to the ground, she loved it too much.).
"I don't know if she's doing it purposely," Gray muttered darkly, glaring at nothing in particular. "Yesterday, I tried to see her at her apartment but she wasn't there. She wasn't at the guild either. If she wants to avoid me like the plague, she's doing a perfect job and really good at it."
Lucy pursed her lips. "Maybe she's just relaxing, like Mira said?" she suggested.
The dark-haired man threw her an incredulous glance, a skeptical eyebrow raised. "You really believe that crap?"
"Huh... yeah?" she blinked, confused.
"Good. Because you're gonna talk, Lucy." She didn't have time to see him stand up or stalk toward her; in a matter of seconds, Gray had her caged between the desk and his arms. Brown eyes widened in stunned disbelief as they stared at stormy, dark orbs. So fast! "Tell me everything you know about Juvia's and Laxus' fucking secret relationship and don't you dare chicken out on me on this one!" he grounded, narrowing his eyes at her. "I heard you with Erza, Cana and Mirajane talking about discovering Juvia's secrets and you mentionned Laxus 'crashing at her place for some time now'. Those were Cana's words, right?" He didn't even wait for her nod as he went on. "Anyway, tell me."
Lucy gaped, her throat suddenly dry. Shit, she surely hadn't seen that coming; the blonde didn't want to face Erza's disapproving stare if she found out that she had spilled the beans to Gray about what she had recently heard on Sunday's afternoon at Fairy Hills – she had to get Cana, Mirajane and the red-haired knight before and tell them about the 'noises' in Juvia's apartment. Good Lords, this was some juicy discovery! Whether it was Laxus in the blue-haired naiad's apartment or not, it truly sounded like that she was having a very good time.
"I-I-I... don't know anything!" she stammered, lying pitifully, her hands raised before her.
"You still don't know how to lie?" Gray couldn't believe it. "Your incompetence at lying will forever continue to stupefy me. So there is something you truly know. Tell me!"
"I swear I don't know anything! I truly don't and plus, it's not like Juvia has really slept with Laxus, I saw her on Sunday afternoon and –"
" –What? Are you really trying to make me buy this? You went to her place, you say? Did you see someone in her bedroom? Was it Laxus?" Gray's eyes were glinting dangerously.
Lucy shook her head, panicked and really surprised. Dozens of terrified thoughts raged in her mind, all the more negative. What the hell was up with all those questions? Was Gray feeling quite possessive toward Juvia over the fact that she seemed to have found a lover to date? Because she wasn't interested in him anymore? Because she suddenly decided to live again? Because she didn't want to ruin herself anymore for hoping that he'd finally return her feelings one day? Because she seemed to have found someone else to love? Because she –
Because she must have thought that he wasn't worth it after all?
Brown eyes blinked twice, regaining their focus. Lucy took a breath to calm her nerves. "Gray... I don't think this is your business to meddle in Juvia's private life," she declared.
The dark-haired Ice Mage had the reaction she expected: he glared at her. "Natsu told you not to help me, right?" he snarled, irritation bubbling up. Gray pulled back, hands curling into tight fists. "Fucking Flame Breath, does he even know what he's doing?"
"He's trying to protect a friend from being hurt any more, that's what he's doing," Lucy piped in to defend the pink-haired Dragon Slayer, frowning at the Ice Mage.
"He's trying to protect who? Juvia? From 'being hurt any more'? For fuck's sake, I'm the one trying to fix my friendship with her because I know I've been hurting her!" Gray gritted his teeth, eyes flashing. "And I don't know how to do that. I. Just. Don't. Know. I've never let anyone get close too close to me because I'm always dreading that they'll leave me, one way or another. Whether they die or keep living. My parents... Ur..." Ultear. The last living person that had a distinct connection with his beloved late master. "And now Juvia's left too. She... she left me because I..." He took a breath. A shaky one. "Don't you see, Lucy? It's always my fault if the people I care about so much leave my side. My parents, even though I don't really remember them well, died protecting me from the monster that destroyed everything good from my childhood and took my happiness away. Ur died protecting me because I'd been fucking stupid enough to think that I'd be strong to take down Deliora as a child all alone."
He swallowed, closing his eyes.
"And Juvia... Juvia is the first woman to push past my walls because she was so persistent and so... sincere and pure. Too pure. For someone like me? Yeah, right: she's just far too good and kind for someone this dark and lone like me. Yet she just kept trying to know me, to help me – to love me. Why, I would ask myself when I tried to understand her interest in me. Why would she love me? Me, of all people she could have gone after? I haven't done nothing special for Juvia, just defeated her because she was in the way and had to be defeated. Then after she was accepted in the guild, the more time she spent with me, the more I've grown to accept her presence and friendship. She was... a breath of fresh air. Something new. But her love was something I couldn't accept or stomach because it hurts. It just hurts because it was a feeling that had been taken away by Deliora and the massacre in my hometown – can I ever love someone without fearing to be alone once again? Could I ever love Juvia and keep her? I don't know, Lucy..." Gray sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "For now, all I want is her friendship back a-and even if she moved on, I just want us to be friends again. At the very least, can she allow us to be friends once again? She's rather unique, I'll be damned if I were to let her friendship slip past my fingers. I won't try to push her away, I-I just..."
Lucy found the words for him, brown eyes having welled up. "You just don't Juvia to leave you because you care a lot about her, even if it's not the way she wanted you to feel toward her."
Because yeah, Lucy Heartfilia truly couldn't ignore a friend's silent pain. Friendship was just far too precious for someone as kind-hearted as this young Celestial Mage; when she met Natsu Dragneel years ago and followed him all the way to the guild of her dreams, the most treasured thing she had been looking forward to was making friends inside this wonderful guild. When you have friends such as Lucy's, everything just seems possible. At Fairy Tail, friendship was everything and treasured in such a way that it could render any member of this guild so strong – stronger than you could imagine. Gray Fullbuster might not love Juvia Lockser, but she was still important to him – very important, if Lucy referred to what she just heard. She had fought for him, almost died for him and hurt herself so that he won't die. He had past issues he had yet to get rid of and while he may have unconsciously and unwillingly driven the one woman who had cared more than enough to deal with his all his shit without flinching, he was determined to get her back. Her friendship at least, for it was the most important thing that made Gray Fullbuster and Juvia Lockser a good pair.
Maybe Lucy will help, after all.
Author's Note 1: Pssh. It's 2:10 am and I'm dead. Night night, my friends. Thanks for all your reviews, favorites and follows, that's giving me courage to continue this story. Also, thank you for voting on the poll. So, see you on the next chapter (Je crois que Sting voudra faire un peu de chahut...)!
Next Chapter: Clarity For You.