Happy new year everyone! Wooow has the month of December been a crazy one. But now with the festivities and holidays all done with, I can focus on my true love; writing! I hope that you guys haven't given up yet on me, because this story still has a few more chapters ahead! Lets get right into it!
Disclaimer: Snow….snoooooow….SNOOOOOOOW—oh, yeah, I don't own Fairy Tail
Chapter Ten: The Power of Frosting
"How did you manage to get a key to Gray's house?" Lucy gave Natsu a sly wink, opening the door to the beautiful home. Though Gray enjoyed fun just as much as the next guy, he wasn't careless with his money. He was a bachelor, but refused to live in the cramped space of an apartment. Lucy slipped her flip flops off at the entrance, her bare feet tingling on the polished hallway floor.
"I called Gray when we were at the store buying the ingredients. I told him that Juvia left her dessert in my car and I wouldn't be able to get back in time for their date. When he went to pick up Juvia, he left his spare key with Mira. Now he'll never know how long we spend in here."
"So you lied." Natsu said bluntly, rolling his eyes at the innocent look Lucy gave him.
"Not really! The cake was in my car…just in ingredient form."
"You're just trying to justify your lie."
"I wouldn't have to justify anything if someone hadn't ruined the first cake." She said, sending him a pointed glare before walking down the hallway. She heard his low whine followed by the scuffle of his feet.
"That's why I'm here to help make a new one! Will you just forgive me already?" She didn't answer him, letting out a long sigh while dropping the bags onto Gray's countertop. Once she separated the ingredients, Lucy looked to the small paper Juvia had written out for her. Though she was fairly certain she could bake a cake, Lucy wanted to make sure this one came out perfectly. Doing exactly as Juvia's instructions told her, Lucy scourged through the cabinets until finding two large bowls to mix the ingredients with. Soon after she found the mixer, measuring cups, and baking pan.
"Okay, so first we need to work with the dry part of the cake," Lucy said, yanking a spoon out of the utensil drawer behind her.
"Does it really matter what part we do first?" Natsu asked, his elbow leaning on the counter in boredom. She placed the base of the spoon in her mouth, sliding her hands into her hair to make a ponytail. She tightened the elastic around her hair, scowling when realizing some of her hair escaped the pony tail to hang next to her face. She pushed the renegade strands behind her ears before she started to mix the cake batter together.
"Maybe not to you, but to me it does. If Juvia said to do the dry parts first, I'm not going to question it," She answered while she added the flour and sugar, making sure to level each ingredient to the exact measurements that Juvia had laid out for her.
"Whatever." Even without looking at him, Lucy knew he was rolling his eyes. She decided to let the conversation die as she continued preparing the cake. She hummed while she worked, continuously glancing between the instructions and the mixture in the bowl. Once the batter was smooth, Lucy dipped a tasting spoon into the liquid to test it. She squealed at the taste, glancing over to Natsu in triumph.
"It's perfect!"Seeing the curious look on his face, Lucy used the spoon in her mouth to gently tap against his forehead. "What's wrong with you?"
"You never really wear your hair up like that."
"So what?" She asked, scowling at the remark. He shrugged, turning back
"It's just kind of…nice." Without warning Natsu smiled, making Lucy's heart jump. Quickly turning away from him, Lucy pressed one hand to her heart while the other quickly stirred the batter.
"Let's just get this done before they get back from their date."
"Fine with me; the last thing I want to do on a Saturday night is bake some cake for the ice princess to enjoy."
"We wouldn't be doing this if—" She jumped when she felt a warm breath breeze against her neck. Instantly her body warmed when realizing the proximity of Natsu. Panicking, Lucy swiveled around to push him away, forgetting the batter-covered spoon in her possession. Both sets of eyes widened when the mix splashed against the bridge of his nose. There was a moment of silence, both too stunned to speak.
"Did you just…" Natsu's confusion quickly turned to mischief, making Lucy regret her decision instantly.
"Wa-Wait," She tried to reason, taking a step away from him. She hadn't meant to fling the cake batter at him; she completely forgot the spoon was in her hand! She was just trying to get him away from her. "This isn't our house, remember that!"
"I get to mess up Gray's house in a food fight with my best friend? There's no bad side to this!"
"You want to deal with Juvia's tears for a second time today?" At the mention of the emotional woman, Natsu tensed up. He really hated when girls cried, and Juvia was no exception. "Exactly. While you think about that, I'm going to finish the cake batter. Will you get the frosting in a bowl so we can dye it?"
"I don't see why we're stuck doing her dirty work." Even as he said it, Natsu grabbed the two tubs of frosting that Lucy had bought earlier in the evening.
"Because you decided to use her first cake as a football!" She hit him in the back of the head, Natsu hissing before glaring at her.
"Who makes a cake for a date? It's not even the bastard's birthday!" Lucy ignored him, turning back to the recipe on the paper. She really didn't get it either, to be honest. Juvia said Lucy inspired her to do it, but she wasn't exactly sure how or when. Pisces women did love to create things in order to show off their affection. Love was a very giving thing for this zodiac sign. Presents were thought about and mulled over for days. Juvia's distress over the ruined cake proved Lucy's astrology readings were spot on. She looked over to Natsu, who was distracted with his task.
Well, it wasn't always right.
Lisanna and Natsu were supposed to be horrible for each other, and yet their date went perfect. A "dream date" if Lucy had ever planned one. Maybe because it was the one she was hoping someone would take her on. No, not just someone. Loke had been trying to court her ever since the matchmaking secret came to light. If she just wanted to feel like a princess, she could have accepted his invitation to join him on his photography trip. The guy had romance sprouting out of his ears. But she had said no, with no rhyme or reason. When Loke asked if someone else had caught her interest, she couldn't say no. Why? Because she was interested in someone. Just the one person she couldn't have.
She turned back to the cake mixture, though her eyes were as unfocused as her brain. For years, people had told her that her relationship with Natsu wasn't normal. Yeah, there were things that they did just like every other set of best friends. Helping each other out, remembering each other's birthdays and just being a friend when nobody else could. But then, there were the things…not so friendly. Like the fact he adamantly refused to believe there was a better match for Cancer than Aries. It had been the only time he had questioned her astrology. Then there was his promise that she would always be the first person in his heart, no matter who the other was dating. The fact that he slept in the same bed with her more often than not was a little over the line. Lucy had always convinced herself they were nothing. But they were something. Something Lucy was scared to even think to explore with her best friend. Because what if she was wrong? What if Natsu was just being an oblivious idiot again? If he had the same feelings she did, wouldn't he be nervous being alone with her?
And what were Lucy's feelings exactly? Was this matchmaking thing just muddling her relationship with Natsu? Or were these real emotions she was finally exposing herself to?
"Ah!" Lucy squealed as someone lifted her away from the cake mixture, her legs flailing around in front of her. She nearly kicked the bowl over, but it wasn't as important as the boy currently holding her hostage. "Natsu, what are you—"
"Pay attention to me. You were daydreaming." His husky voice was muffled into the back of her shoulder, which caused her to shiver then glare. He sounded like an erotic four year old! How the heck was she supposed to respond to that? Lucy tried to get out of the strong hold as he carried her towards the bowl of frosting. She knew he was planning to get revenge for earlier. Damn, her reasoning didn't stick in his thick head.
"Don't just stick your fingers in the frosting!" She squirmed against his one arm while watching his free set of fingers dip into the gooey substance. Feeling his smirk now resting on the back of her head, she knew he wasn't going to listen to her reasoning. And she really didn't feel like getting covered in the sticky concoction! Panicking, Lucy elbowed his stomach to get him to let go. A gasp of air blew past her ear, making her cheeks flush in excitement. Even when in pain, he left her breathless. Oh, this was bad. She really had fallen for him. Closing her eyes, Lucy tried to ignore the swelling in her lower tummy when his clean hand accidentally brushed an exposed part of her stomach. Like fire was trailing through him, Natsu's fingertips left a hot path on her skin that made her moan. She was desperate to get away, though no longer in fear of the frosting. Her legs swung wildly, and she gasped when her foot hooked behind one of his knees. In an instant they were on the floor. Not wasting the opportunity to gain some control of the situation, Lucy rolled onto her knees and started to move. Natsu, in normal Natsu fashion, saw her attempt to crawl away as a new challenge.
"Got ya!" Lucy yelped when one of her legs were pulled out from under her, dragging her back across the flour-covered floor. She flipped over to kick him, but his hand caught her ankle before she could make any contact. She glared while he grinned, teasing her by giving the ankle in possession a soft squeeze. When she felt a thick liquid slide along her skin, she looked to the leg in restraint to see white frosting smeared on her ankle. That idiot forgot he had frosting on his fingers. Well, at least she had shaved her legs that morning. At the crazy thought, Lucy almost laughed. She dropped her head back onto the floor, giving up on the idea that her life would ever be normal.
"You've got me, Natsu." You've always had me, you idiot. After her realization, Lucy closed her eyes at the painful feeling. This was unbelievable. What type of moron would fall for someone like Natsu? Oh yeah, that would be Lucy. She refused to open her eyes, but wiggled her captured leg to get his attention. With her leg being lifted so high off the ground, she could feel her skirt start to hike up her thighs. Part of her worried he could get a clear view of her panties. She dismissed the thought when realizing Natsu was dating Lisanna. He would never look at another girl that intimately if he was trying to get with her. It wasn't in the Aries nature. "You need to grab a wet paper towel and clean that off."
"And give you the opportunity to run away? Hell no!"
"You can't be serious! The frosting is going to harden," Lucy said, trying to convince her one-tracked best friend to let go of her. In truth, she didn't want him to notice the goose bumps his fingers produced on her skin.
"So what?"
"Natsu, I really need to start baking the cake. I don't have time for you tonight." When he didn't respond to her, Lucy was tempted to smack him. It was one thing to dismiss her concerns, but to straight up ignore her? She should just shake his grip off and clean it herself. She would probably do a better job anyways.
The thought instantly flew from her mind when hot desire shot through her leg, Lucy's eyes popping open in shock. Natsu, never being one to do the expected, had decided he was going to clean her ankle. And by clean, she meant directly lick the frosting off of her skin. Lucy pushed up onto her elbows, frantically trying to tell him to stop. She opened her mouth, but shut it just as fast when she felt a moan form in her throat. She could feel her cheeks flushing when he sucked over the frosting, a soft hum from his lips making her body tense. Was he…enjoying this? His eyes were closed, so she wasn't sure how he was able to figure out where to clean. Then again, with the way her brain was going haywire, she didn't really care. His tongue scorched heat along her calf, which she was pretty sure was frosting free. She bit her lip hard, begging her body to stop trembling under his mouth. She felt his fingers tighten, as if holding back, before his teeth skimmed the sensitive flesh of her ankle again. She gasped, never realizing an ankle could be an erogenous zone. She glanced up at her toes, which were curled in pure pleasure.
"You taste really good, Luce," He chuckled, not seeming to understand how rough his voice had become. Lucy refused to answer, but her eyes stayed wide with pure shock. What was Natsu doing? What was he doing?! His hand left her ankle, the nerve-shot limb easily dropping onto his shoulder. Lucy leaned her head back as his fingers trailed down the length of her leg. Did he notice the effect he had on her body? When his hand skimmed the outside of her newly exposed thigh, dangerously close to the lining of her underwear, Lucy snapped into escape mode.
"St-stop!" Without warning Lucy kicked the side of Natsu's head, sending him face first into the cabinet next to them. Scrambling to her feet, Lucy barely made it to the other side of the kitchen before her knees gave out and she fell back to the ground. She looked back at Natsu, who was whining while clutching his head with both of his hands. Maybe she would have felt bad if her breathing wasn't so heavy and her stomach wasn't in pleasurable knots. Problems he caused. Could he even understand the sexual aura he gave off when he wanted to? Lucy had known him for a long time, and prided herself in saying she knew him better than most. But what he had just done was a whole new side to him. It left her breathless, shaken, and wanting more.
"And I thought Erza was violent," Natsu mumbled, sending her a sheepish smile. She couldn't make herself return the gesture, confusion blocking everything she could possibly reply with. Where was this guy a minute ago? Lucy swallowed, rubbing her newly cleaned skin while looking away from him.
"So-sorry," she managed out, begging her blush to go away. Her body tensed when she heard him move, and it was only a second later that she felt his breath on her cheek.
"Are you okay? I didn't mean to scare you." Scare? He didn't scare her; he got her aroused! More aroused than her ex-boyfriend ever had, and that included sex. All he did was French kiss her ankle! Her ankle. Didn't the idiot know the difference between being freaked out and being turned on? She closed her eyes when she felt his nose brush against her cheek in an apologetic manner. The soothing touch calmed her body down, but her heartbeat jumped into her throat. "You're not upset, right?"
"No, I'm not mad," she mumbled, leaning her head into his nose to show she accepted his gesture. "But you can't just…lick me like that. There's got to be some boundaries between us." It was awkward saying, especially when she knew she didn't necessarily mind his tongue on her. Okay, she seriously had to stop thinking about that particular part of him.
"Boundaries?" He pulled back to frown at her, shaking his head once. "That sounds negative. What kind of "boundaries" are we talking about here?"
"Well, uh…" where did she even start? If Lucy really wanted to think about the situation selfishly, she wouldn't change a thing. Now that she was starting to realize she may actually like Natsu in an intimate way, changing their relationship wouldn't benefit her at all. But it wasn't just Lucy's feelings she had to think about. Lisanna and Natsu were attempting to have a relationship, and Lucy couldn't hurt a fellow Fairy Tail member by going after Natsu. It wouldn't feel right to her. Wincing on the inside, Lucy steeled herself and faced Natsu's questioning gaze head on. "You can't sleep in my bed anymore."
"What?! Why not?"
"Because you're a guy and I'm a girl. And even if you don't see it that way, we're not supposed to sleep in the same bed together."
"Well who cares what we're supposed to do? Fairy Tail members do what they want and think nothing of it!" This guy was giving her a headache. The two glared at each other, their faces so close that their noses brushed. Lucy refused to back down despite her embarrassment.
"You have to think about the other people involved in this. It's not just you and me anymore."
"Well who else would it involve? It's not going to be you and another guy, right?"
"No! Well, not right now, at least." Like she had struck him across the face, Natsu reeled back and stared at her in anger. She blinked, feeling like they had suddenly switched roles. Wasn't he supposed to be the confused idiot and she the pissed one?
"What does that mean?"
"It means that eventually I'd want to find someone to be with too. Is that a crime?"
"Yes." She arched her eyebrow, and he scrunched his nose. "No? I don't know! Don't ask me such complicated questions."
"It was more rhetorical than anything," she muttered, not understanding why he was fuming in front of her. Seriously, the glare he was sending the curtains made her fear they were going to spontaneously combust. Trying the conversation from a different (and more painful) perspective, Lucy balled her fists in her skirt and spoke. "Wouldn't you get upset if Lisanna slept in another guy's bed?"
"No." Well, that was surprising. Lucy furrowed her eyebrows at his response, not sure if he was lying or not. If there was one thing that Lucy knew about Aries men, it was their jealousy was impossible to hide. If any man tried to take a step near their claimed turf, an Aries would lower their horns and strike without a second thought. But here he seemed to be truly okay with Lucy's proposal. In fact, he was more livid about the suggestion of Lucy talking to other men than Lisanna. He turned back to her sharply, anger tingeing the black of his eyes. "You're not going to let that jerk Loke sleep in your bed, right?"
"What? No! Loke's not going anywhere near my bed, trust me."
"He's been bugging you a lot lately."
"It's because of the astrology stuff. And he's always had a tendency to try and get me to go out with him. Really, it's nothing too new," She said, waving her hand to show how little she thought of the situation. She went to re-focus the conversation, but was halted when her hand was seized in Natsu's.
"So that was a date?" Lucy stared at Natsu, unsure if she was reading his scowl right. He was angry, but she got the feeling it wasn't at her. "At the carnival; you two went on a date?"
"I…guess it was." At her response, Natsu's hand tightened on hers while a soft growl emanated from the back of his throat "Does it really matter if—"
"Yes!" Whoa. Lucy almost felt the fire burning in Natsu's gaze. This was the jealousy that Lucy had expected to see when talking about Lisanna. A part of her was still waiting for him to snap at her for suggesting the pretty girl sleep with another man. But here he was, fuming over the simple fact that Loke had asked her out on a few dates. Like…like she was the girl he had gone on the perfect date with. Not liking how upset Natsu seemed, Lucy decided to stop trying to figure things out as his friend. Switching into astrologist mode, Lucy knew the first step when dealing with a pissed Aries was to make sure they had your attention. Flipping her wrist, Lucy tried not to blush as she laced her fingers with Natsu and squeezed his palm.
"I didn't say yes to being his girlfriend or anything." Her voice was softer, hoping it would calm Natsu down. If she was going on the farfetched idea that Natsu did have feelings for her, then she knew exactly how to handle his jealousy. Step two in astrologist mode was physical contact. Aries were not the first ones to think with their heads. They preferred physical proof of feelings and facts. Sending him a reassuring smile, Lucy leaned into the small space between them to rest her forehead against his. She pushed through her own embarrassment to focus on the still upset guy in front of her. "Loke's pretty persistent, but I'm not interested in him."
"Not at all?" She rolled her eyes, wanting to smack his skeptical question. Honestly, when had she ever lied to him?
"He's really a good guy, pretty charming for sure. He's the type of guy that wouldn't be hard to bring home to the family. But like I said, he's not my type. And besides, he's not as much fun to hang out with as you." Because the third step to dealing with an upset Aries was to reassure them that they were the number one person in your heart. Despite all of their positive qualities, Aries were self-centered. Their self-absorbed personalities made it hard to deal with them, if you weren't patient like Lucy. It was why, in her opinion, Loke and Natsu butted heads so often. Leos and Aries were both full of themselves. She didn't even want to get started on Laxus. "Just to be clear here; I'm happy to keep Loke on the friend level. I just thought you'd want to know."
"…You can do way better than him, Luce. I like Loke as a guild member; he's a pretty cool dude. Gray's buddy-buddy with him, so he can't be a complete jackass. But, when it comes to girls, he's just a player looking to add to his bragging belt. You'll need someone with a heart located in their chest, not their pants." Honesty was a big thing with an Aries. Even if it made them uncomfortable, an Aries didn't like to sugar coat to save feelings. Or, in this situation, dim down the bluntness of a compliment. And Lucy couldn't say she minded the simplicity of Natsu's words. They weren't flowery or romantic in any sense; but they warmed her heart with the sheer honesty behind them.
"So what kind of guy should I go for, then?" She was probably pushing the boundary she had been so zealously talking about earlier, but she was too swept up in the uncomfortable look Natsu was giving the floor. It was his turn to be embarrassed.
"Why do you need to date anyone? Aren't you happy with your life now?" Of course she was happy! She had great friends, a huge adopted family, a job she loved (despite its moments of insanity) and a guy that invoked dance parties just to make her smile. Who couldn't be happy with that sort of crazy life? Still…
"It wouldn't hurt to have a companion along for the ride."
"I can be that." Her eyes widened as he lifted his head, nervously squeezing her hand in his. Did he understand what he was saying?
"Natsu, I don't think you get what I mean." He shook his head in disagreement.
"We already spend a bunch of time together. I really don't like the idea of setting up boundaries, because I like the relationship we have now. Mira's always saying I'm following you like a puppy dog or something, and you gave me a key to your apartment. So…if it gets weird we could just go back to being best friends, right? If the date sucks or you hate it, I mean."
"Da-Da-Date?" Now she knew how Erza felt! How such a little word became a tongue twister in Lucy's mouth, she'd never know. Natsu, seeming to catch the hue of embarrassment on her face, let his grin grow a little while nodding.
"Yeah, a date. I know you've probably never thought about us in that way, but it's really not a horrible idea." Blankly, Lucy stared at the guy in front of her. He assumed she had never given their relationship a thought? She had been mulling about the idea since she started this damn job! "And one date between two best friends can't really hurt anyone."
"Wait…wait. What about Lisanna?" Because in truth, it could hurt someone dear to both of them. Lucy may not have been best friends with the girl, but she knew she was a good person who deserved at least a little thought. It almost bothered her how easily Natsu seemed to be sweeping Lisanna under the rug. If he was doing that to the girl he was dating, what would he do to Lucy?
"What about her?" He snapped his fingers as soon as he said it, seeming to understand what she was talking about. "Oh! You mean Saturday, when we went out? Yeah, Lisanna and I had a great time together! Thanks for setting that up, again. I didn't like how she kept scolding me like a child, but I liked catching up with her and talking about her trip out of the country. It was really good for building our friendship again. By the end of it, we both kind of realized it was less of a date and more of just 'hanging out with a lost friend' kind of feeling. Or maybe a brother-sister get together; Lisanna and I have always been close like that. Actually, Lisanna really wanted to know more about you than me. Spent most of the time asking about you."
"Me? You two talked about me on your date?" Dumbstruck was the only way Lucy could describe herself at the new information. For the past week, she had been tearing herself up over the idea of Lisanna and Natsu having such a great time. Now, the idiot was telling her they were focused on her?
"Yeah, probably because you came to Fairy Tail after she left. She's always wanted to talk to you, but you've got a lot of friends in the guild. Every time you walk in, someone else is coming to you with their problems. She didn't want to take away from your friend's time or anything, especially after you picked up this matchmaker job. I told her to just sneak in through your window like I do, but she said something about invading your privacy."
"Gee, at least someone is thinking of my personal space," she muttered, wondering why the pink-haired boy couldn't take the hint.
"I told you that I'd take Happy back if he was really bothering you that much…"
"That's not who I was taking about!" Lucy shouted, smacking Natsu in the back of the head again. Natsu laughed while rubbing his head, and Lucy felt herself smiling despite her earlier irritation. The smile turned into a giggle, and then full on laughter. She leaned against his side as she continued, barely being able to breathe by the end of it.
"So, is it okay?" Lucy looked up at Natsu, who was staring at their joined hands in his lap.
"Is what okay?"
"You're going to make me do this all sappy aren't you?" Letting out a long sigh, Natsu pushed up to face Lucy, a determined stare letting her know the joking was over. "You want to go on a date with me, sometime? Like, whenever you're lonely or just bored or something."
"Are you just asking so I don't go with Loke?" It was childish, Lucy knew. But she refused to think of accepting Natsu's proposal if he was doing it for ulterior motives, especially if her heart was actually in it.
"No way! You already said you don't like him like that and I trust you. This is just kind of for…us. For our future, you know?" He shrugged his shoulders to try and distract her from his blush. Lucy (now accepting she was way too obsessed with her job), felt speechless. Not over his statement, per say. Aries always had a problem when it came to talking about romantic relationships as…well, a pairing. They were "me" kind of thinkers, and Natsu had always been innocently self-centered his entire life. It wasn't narcissistic; he just didn't see the world outside of himself. He always had a hard time seeing things from another person's perspective. To think about another person in their private life was a serious deal.
"I don't work Wednesday." She said it without thinking, and Natsu's insecure nature flew out the window.
"Alright! Get ready to get swept off your feet, Natsu style!" Lucy laughed, unsure how she ever got herself in this situation. The matchmaker was matched up with the client who gave her the most problems. She knew Mira would be beyond pleased. And when Gray found out—
"Oh my god! Natsu, the cake!" He tilted his head, already seeming for forget why they were in Gray's house to begin with. Scrambling to get up, Lucy ran to her phone on the counter and groaned at the time. Juvia and Gray were going to be back in less than an hour! While that was plenty of time to actually bake the cake, it left no time to frost or decorate.
"It's fine, Luce."
"No, it's not!" Looking to Natsu in a panic, Lucy felt overwhelmed by the feeling of failure. It wasn't about the cake or the frosting, really. Juvia had always been a bit zany, but a good person. Once she got over her fear of Lucy 'stealing' Gray, Juvia became extremely close to her. All Lucy wanted to do was make this night perfect for the timid girl, especially when she was putting so much faith in her matchmaking. She was the one who told Juvia to go for it, right? She had said to leave the rest of the night to her. And here she was with an unbaked cake and no time to make a miracle happen. She was going to disappoint Juvia. Frustrated tears filled her eyes, despite her attempt to blink them away. The lost face Natsu had quickly disappeared, turning into a serious expression. He moved off the floor, standing behind Lucy as he rested his hands on the counter in front of them.
"It's going to be okay, I promise. We're in this together; we can't fail." She closed her eyes when his lips brushed her ear, the words of encouragement calming her. She knew she got over emotional at times, and it was probably annoying to most guys. Seriously, who got this upset over a cake? Still, she felt less of a freak when Natsu's hand covered hers, squeezing it once before pulling away. "Let's get the cake in the oven."
"Even if I get the cake baked in time, it still needs at least twenty minutes to cool off. By the time it's ready to frost, Juvia and Gray will be here!" Even as she said that, she started to get the pan ready to bake. Natsu helped out with spreading the batter into the pan, hoping to help ease his friend's frayed nerves.
"You're really smart Lucy, you'll think of something." She pushed the cake into the oven, setting the timer and praying she had followed Juvia's recipe correctly. She closed her eyes when Natsu's hand ruffled her hair before landing on her shoulder and pulling her into a hug. Within seconds she was relaxed and leaning into his body.
"Thank you, Natsu."
"Thank me after you think of something lovely dovey for stalker girl and ice prick." She nodded, and pushed away from him to start thinking of a plan. She was concentrated on her new task, completely missing the admiration in her best friend's eyes.
Juvia was worried. It was really hard not to be when spending the whole night alone with Gray (this had been their third date, but still) and his random periods of silence. While she had to admit it was a wonderful evening, Juvia was extremely nervous on the way home. Gray had always been quieter than the rest of the group, except when fighting with Natsu. Juvia had admired that about him, realizing that his quiet nature fit well with her slight deficiency in social skills. She didn't need to push much conversation with him for him to feel satisfied. With someone like Natsu or Lucy, it seemed constant conversation was mandatory. To find someone who was okay with silence was heaven for Juvia.
But now, it was almost too quiet.
Juvia had always been the initiator, the one to chase after Gray. She had done her part in making sure the guy knew she was interested in him. But after talking to Lucy about an Aquarius's disapproval of smothering and obsessive clingy-ness, Juvia had taken a step back from him. In truth, Juvia had never acted that obsessed with any other guy she had dated. Gray just made her butterflies spiral out of control without doing anything. Half expecting Lucy's advice to be a trap (Juvia still couldn't stop some jealousy from seeping out), Juvia tried to focus on her career more than her love for Gray. It was easier than she expected, and there were hours when the guy didn't even pop into her mind. She would see him at Fairy Tail as often as normal, but she bit back the urge to run up to him every time. Instead, she would mingle with other people Lucy suggested to talk to as part of her "matchmaking" evaluation. Though she never felt the connection with any other man she spoke with, Juvia enjoyed each conversation she had.
After one week of following Lucy's advice, Juvia was more than surprised to find Gray waiting outside of her office after work.
"Gray-sama, what are you doing here?" She nearly swooned at how sexy he looked in a suit and tie, nothing like he wore at Fairy Tail. Then again, he hardly wore anything at the guild.
"I haven't seen you around a lot; I wanted to see if you were okay." His casual tone sent chills down her spine, but Juvia ignored it to unlock her car. She put her briefcase in the back seat, but could still feel his eyes on her.
"Juvia is working hard to do as Lucy says. Lucy suggested focusing on work, since some men don't enjoy being hovered over. Juvia hopes in doing this, she'll find out if she's compatible with the man Juvia is interested in." She looked up to him when she shut the back door, leaning her back against the cool metal. Her arm brushed his, the suit's fabric much softer than it looked.
"Oh, I forgot you were a part of that."
"Does it bother Gray-sama?"
"No." Juvia felt her hope dim at his straightforward answer. Wasn't he jealous she was talking to other men? Or was it that he simply wasn't interested in her? Not liking that idea, Juvia looked down at her shoes and frowned. "I just didn't realize how often I saw you before this matchmaker thing. Now I kind of feel like you're never with me."
"O-oh."
"Which brings me to my next reason for coming here." Gray pushed off of her car, turning to face her confused expression. His hands were in his pockets, making the conversation feel casual. Juvia tried to relax, but her heart was beating out of control at the serious look in his eyes. A few long moments of silence passed, and yet Gray refused to look away from her. Feeling flustered, Juvia hesitantly called out his name.
"Gray-sama?"
"Does Lucy have to approve a date request before you say yes?"
When Juvia had barely gotten out the word 'no', Gray asked her to go see a movie the next night. His intense stare never left her face when asking, as if expecting Juvia to say no. Left speechless by his question, she almost gave him the wrong impression. It was only when she found her voice and agreed to the date that Gray looked away…embarrassed? Maybe just uncomfortable, especially when she sent him a shy smile. That feeling of awkwardness trailed into the first date, and through much of the second.
Their first date was nothing too romantic but enough to be qualified as a date. Most of the date was required silence, but both car rides had been a little strained. When he asked her out to lunch the next time, Juvia had to hold back her excitement. That one was a little easier, especially when they happened to bump into Natsu and Lucy. It ended up as a double date (unbeknownst to Lucy and Natsu), but Juvia didn't mind. She still got to spend time with Gray, and as long as he was happy then so was she. It was a week later when Gray asked her to a formal dinner date for their third attempt. Remembering some of Lucy's advice, Juvia offered to make dessert after dinner. Aquarius admired 50/50 relationships, right? He seemed surprised by her offer, but agreed with a self-satisfied smile.
During the dinner, Juvia refused to be the dominant force on the date. She waited patiently for Gray to speak, which he eventually did. It was mostly about her career with her social work at first, seeming to admire the fact she was successful at such a young age. She felt uncomfortable with the conversation being about her, and tried to focus on him. He wouldn't let her stray far, and the subtle compliments he gave her about her work-ethic and intelligence surprised her. She thanked him after every praise. Soon, the stiff conversation loosened up, and Juvia felt herself relaxing over their dinner. Or maybe because the conversation switched to him. She learned more of Gray's past, and discovered things like his passion for travel. They connected on their mutual desire to visit Italy, as well as their appreciation for fine arts. His smile became more apparent, and Juvia even made him laugh a few times. He really did have such a handsome face when he was happy. By the time Gray paid for dinner (he refused to even let her see the bill); Juvia had fallen even more in love with him.
But the good mood from dinner seemed to be left outside of the silent car. Wondering what she did wrong, Juvia replayed the walk to their parking spot over in her head. It was only a few yards from the restaurant, and he had been sweet enough to open her door for her. But like New England weather, Gray's content mood changed within seconds. She glanced over to him when he pulled into his driveway, thinking of something to say.
"Juvia had a great time tonight," She said, trying to break the silence between them. He looked over to her as he shut the car off, giving a soft nod.
"The restaurant was really spectacular," he answered simply. She nodded with enthusiasm, trying to get back on the wavelength they were on before.
"Juvia would love to go with you again." She was being bold, but Juvia could handle rejection. It had taken years for Gray to even give a hint he was interested in her, after all. He didn't answer her right away, and Juvia prepared for a cold reply or change of subject. Biting her lower lip, Juvia couldn't help but feel disappointed. Was this how her perfect night was going to end? With an awkward car ride and no kiss? She could accept that with the first two dates, but the third? Lucy had said Aquarius men moved fast, which explained three dates in two weeks. And yet here she was, starting to expect nothing again. Her doubt was washed away when she felt a brush of his thumb across her lower lip, making her release the punctured skin.
"Depends on how good your dessert is." Was Gray…teasing her? Her cheeks lit up in color at his casual smile, his hand lingering on her cheek before he moved out of the car. He seemed uncomfortable with his own actions, now unable to look at her as they made their way into the house. Shrugging his jacket off, Gray held his hand out to her while scanning the house. "Well, it looks like Natsu didn't destroy anything I can see. Maybe Lucy didn't bring him, though I doubt the flame brain would leave her alone in another man's home. I'll hang your coat up for you."
"Thank you." She watched him move into another room, leaving her to wander along the long hallway. She jumped when she felt her clutch vibrate in her hand, Juvia quickly unzipping the purse to see Lucy had texted her. She seemed confused when the words 'You don't have to color in the lines tonight. Aquarius like spontaneity!' popped up on the screen. Just what was her blond friend talking about?
"Juvia?" She looked up at Gray's voice, seeing him extend his arm to her. "I'm sure they left the dessert in the kitchen."
"Oh, yes!" She slid her hand onto his bicep, enjoying the feel of silk and muscle in her grasp. As he led her through the house, Juvia felt her erratic heartbeat pounding against her chest. It was rare for Gray to accept an intimate touch from Juvia, and this was only the second time he had initiated one. The first had been in the car just minutes earlier. Having him come to her made her feel much more flustered than any time she had come onto him.
But she couldn't say she hated it.
As they neared the kitchen, Juvia could see soft glowing light not possible by electricity. Once stepping through the threshold, Juvia held in her gasp at the beautiful set up. Candles were lit throughout the room, illuminating the table top. Two slender champagne glasses sat on either side of a chilled vintage bottle Juvia knew was more expensive than she would spend. The cake sat in the middle of the table, bare with two small bowls of frosting on either side of it. Though she was enjoying touching Gray so familiarly, Juvia pulled away in order to investigate. Her heels clicked softly on the wooden floor, stopping when seeing two small index cards on the table. To the left, she saw "Juvia Lockser" written beautifully in Lucy's handwriting. To the right, Juvia giggled at seeing "Gray Fullbuster" in chicken scratch. She could only assume Natsu was the culprit, especially when seeing an angry chibi of Gray drawn in the corner.
"I do not look like that." Juvia jumped at the unexpected voice, turning her head over her shoulder to see Gray scowling at the name card.
"Juvia thinks it's cute," she replied, watching the grimace increase on his face.
"Gray thinks Natsu needs his ass kicked." At that point, Juvia couldn't help but laugh. When had Gray ever used third person to talk? Seeming to realize his mistake, a faint blush grew on his face while Gray dropped the name card back onto the table. Looking to the champagne, Gray reached over and started to pop open the bottle before pouring each of them a glass. Juvia murmured a quiet 'thank you' before taking a sip. It was fantastic, and Gray seemed to agree by the pleased look on his face. "What is all of this, anyways?"
"Lucy and Natsu's doing, Juvia promises." She swirled her champagne in the glass, feeling slightly nervous with drinking around Gray. She knew it was her wild imagination, but she couldn't stop thinking of the trashy love novels Erza read them at every sleep over. Being alone with a man and intoxicated was dangerous, but Juvia knew it was different with Gray. He was a gentleman, and she doubted he'd ever make such a passionate move on her.
"But I thought you made the dessert?" At the mention of her promise, Juvia looked away in guilt.
"Juvia did make a dessert earlier today, but Natsu had accidentally knocked it over. In order to help Juvia keep her promise to Gray-sama, Lucy offered to bake another. Juvia lent Lucy one of her recipes, so it would still be Juvia's creation for Gray-sama. It wasn't meant to be deceitful. Juvia just wanted to show Gray-sama their relationship would be a partnership, and not one only supporting the other. If she had shown up with nothing, Juvia was worried Gray-sama would see her as unreliable."
"Now I see why Lucy needed to bring the cake after we left. Leave it to the flame brain to cause such a big problem." Even though irritation was in his voice, Juvia caught sight of a hint of a smile as he turned her to face him. He finished his champagne in one swig before placing the glass on the table. He focused back on her, his fingers lingering on her arms. His face was unreadable, and to distract herself Juvia pushed her own glass onto the table. "You should have just told me what happened; I wouldn't have been mad."
"Mad, mostly likely not. Disappointed was what Juvia was worried about."
"And why would you worry about that? You've proven yourself plenty to me over the past few years. Especially when it comes to you being there whenever I need you."
"As a friend, yes." There was a long pause between them, Gray's hands loosening on Juvia's arms. Not liking his reaction, Juvia took a step closer to him. "But Juvia wants to be seen as something more than that to Gray-sama."
"Even if our relationship changed, you would still be my friend." He spoke softly, and in her mind Juvia feared it was to let her down easy. He wasn't blushing or stuttering at her confession, which dampened her spirits more than ever before. When she exclaimed her love for Gray in front of everyone, she knew she was bound to be rejected. It wasn't that her feelings weren't honest; Juvia truly loved Gray. Juvia also knew that Gray would never be the type to openly express his feelings in front of other people. He was reserved, the very same thing that drew her to him in the first place. Maybe that was why Juvia did it in front of others. If she got rejected in a situation like this, with them alone, Juvia knew it wasn't just for show. It would be real, as would the pain.
"Will Juvia's relationship with Gray-sama change?" She asked, refusing to let her insecurities get the best of her. Even if she was to be truly rejected, Juvia refused to let Lucy's advice go to waste. Lucy had worked hard, and not just for Juvia. She wanted to see Gray happy too. Juvia watched his face for any indication of disgust or annoyance with her. It didn't move, and Juvia had to wonder if that was a good thing or not. Losing her two seconds of bravery, Juvia turned to the cake and moved to her seat. "Shall we finish our friends's work?"
"Don't I always pick up after Natsu?" He snorted at his own question and sat down, gently stirring the frosting with the given knife. "He would choose fire red. God I hate this color."
"He really does appreciate your friendship, Gray-sama." She smiled at the arched brow he gave her, knowing he wasn't willing to admit his affection for Natsu.
"I'll believe that when I believe Erza doesn't enjoy punishing us." She giggled at his dead-pan reply before she focused on her side of the cake. Lucy had chosen a pretty blue for her frosting, probably knowing it was Juvia's favorite color. She smoothly started to apply the frosting, trying her best to keep it clean. It was for Gray, after all. Still, she couldn't shake the text Lucy had sent her. What did she mean by being spontaneous? "Do you bake often?"
"Huh?" She looked up from her frosting, repeating his question to herself when she realized he was staring. "Yes. Juvia does a lot of home projects. Baking and cooking are Juvia's favorites. If Gray-sama wishes to come over sometime, Juvia could make him lunch."
"I'd like that." She smiled over at him, happy to know he was comfortable with thinking of a fourth date. Gray seemed less pleased. From the way his eyebrows furrowed, Juvia knew something was on his mind. "How come you've never told me before? About the cooking and baking. I've known you for years and never knew this. Or much of anything, for that matter. Hell, I had to ask Lucy where your office was."
"You've never asked Juvia." It was such a simple answer, but it seemed to shock Gray into silence again. Knowing the conversation went dead, Juvia looked back at the cake to continue working. She was fine with the quiet, so long as she got to spend it with Gray. Having him here didn't make it quite so lonely. As a child, Juvia was always by herself. She had no parents, and her orphanage didn't exactly breed happy children. How could it? Juvia spent most of her time learning things around the house, like cooking and sewing. It kept her mind occupied from the fact that nobody ever wanted to take her home with them. By the time she finally left on her own, Juvia was a self-sufficient woman. She put herself through school, and used scholarships to pay off her college bills. Now, she was a more than capable woman whose main interest was the man she could still feel watching her.
"You don't talk about yourself much."
"Juvia doesn't find herself interesting. She's happy to talk about Gray-sama as much as he wants," She answered, continuing to frost.
"That's not how a relationship works." She knew that. Juvia had seen plenty of happy relationships in her life. Even more now that Lucy was matching up everyone. But she didn't want to talk about herself.
"The past should be left there, right? Juvia's past will only bring you sadness." Being distracted by Gray's prodding, Juvia smudged some of her frosting onto the side Gray already had coated. Mixing the colors made a beautiful purple, and Juvia found herself smudging more of her frosting on purpose. "Gray-sama, this color is—"
"It doesn't have to be just your past." She paused when his hand rested over hers, but she didn't lift her head. From the corner of her eye, she watched his shadow stand up and lean over the table. From the way their shadows met in the dimly lit room, it looked as if they were kissing. "I do want to know about your childhood, especially since you told Gajeel. But I'd like for you to talk about yourself more in general."
"Like what?"
"Anything you think I should know." Like they were being watched, Gray's voice was soft and quiet.
"Why?" She whispered, her hand barely trembling under his. Though she was strong, Juvia never talked about the demons that lay lurking underneath her calm composure. The ones that sometimes kept Juvia awake at night were too painful to speak of. Voices would taunt her in her sleep, telling her that everyone would leave her soon. Nightmares brought her back to the orphanage, reminding her how lonely it had been before Fairy Tail. Before Gray. In her dreams, each friend she had made would disappear and she would be left alone again. No smiles, no laughter. Just silence. She never wanted to burden her friends with her emotional turmoil. So she never talked about herself, just in case.
"Because…I truly care for you, Juvia." Her name sounded so sweet on his lips. She closed her eyes when a cool hand brought her face up to his, her breath hitching when she felt him falter. Confident, self-assured, always secure with himself. That was who Gray Fullbuster was. But to know he was hesitating to kiss Juvia proved this wasn't something he was taking lightly. Gray thought everything he did through, and didn't make rash decisions like Natsu. He had to have thought about this moment before actually acting upon it. Feeling the waver in his breath, Juvia knew he needed support. In this moment, she needed to be his partner. Juvia grabbed his free hand with her own, placing it gently against her heartbeat. She mirrored her actions on his chest, letting her lips brush his as she spoke.
"Our heartbeats are in sync, Gray-sama." Her voice was shaking, which she knew was from being so close to Gray. Did he feel the same magnetic pull she did?
"They are," he said, his other hand tightening on hers. It was now or never, in her mind.
"If you want, Juvia will tell you everything. She will answer your questions, no matter the pain. Juvia wishes to know as much as she can about Gray-sama, as well. Because Juvia has loved Gray-sama for many years. She'll continue to love Gray-sama, no matter what troubles come. And she will wait for Gray-sama to love her, too. Her only wish, her true desire, is for Gray-sama to never leave her side." Leaning up in her seat, Juvia was prepared to take control of the situation. Before she could, Gray's lips pressed fully into hers. Feeling a weight lift off her, Juvia returned the kiss without hesitation. Her hand lifted from his chest to cradle his cheek, making Gray deepen the kiss. Her grip dropped from the knife when he yanked her forward, lifting her off the seat. By now he was around the table, trapping Juvia's body against his own. He wrapped an arm around her waist, attempting to sear into her mind this kiss. It was as if he was expressing the emotions he couldn't form into words. Juvia went along with him, ignoring the strain of her legs from the awkward position to prolong the kiss.
It was hard to pull away from him, but her little lungs could only take so much abuse. She gasped for air as she fell back in her seat, Gray's mouth only giving her a second before stealing her lips again. She slid her hand into his hair, overwhelmed with emotion. His kiss wasn't sweet or soft like little girls dream of; it was proof that inside and out, Gray was a man. A man with desire for a woman named Juvia. It was almost palpable on her tongue now. His hands had captured her cheeks while his tongue slipped into her moaning mouth. He certainly knew how to kiss, bringing a fierce flush to her pale cheeks. He leaned her back against the chair as one knee slipped between her legs, resting on the edge of the seat. His mouth was unrelenting, never disappointing the whimpering girl beneath him. But then, when had Gray ever let Juvia down? By the time he pulled back from the second kiss, Juvia's chest was heaving like she had just run a marathon. His hands now rested on the back of her chair, his knee refusing to move from its spot between her legs. Instantly Gray's eyes locked on hers, staring her down. Juvia felt intimidated, but refused to break his stare while she desperately tried to catch her breath. Besides the slight ruffling of his now unbuttoned shirt (did he even realize he was stripping again?), Gray seemed much more composed than her. On the outside, at least.
"I don't…" He stopped, frustrated with being unable to articulate what he wanted. Juvia was in no rush to interrupt, still reeling from the amazing kisses he had given her. Instead, she sat silently while running her fingers through his hair. He shivered at the touch, which made Juvia smile. Maybe she did affect him after all. Taking a slow breath, Gray continued. "I don't know how to…love you."
"How to…" she trailed off, making Gray shake his head.
"I don't know how to love anyone. Never mind someone like you." He rubbed his face, shaking his head. "Someone who loves me so much."
"Is Gray-sama mad at Juvia for loving him?" He shook his head again, his weak smile making her heart throb.
"That'd be kind of stupid to be mad at," he answered. She moved forward, frowning when he leaned away from her. He reached behind him, slowly untangling her hand from his hair. He stared down at her feeble fingers, scowling at himself. "I'm just a lot to handle."
"That's okay, Juvia is strong."
"I'll probably hurt you. Keep hurting you."
"You don't hurt Juvia." Even as she said it, she felt Gray pull away from her.
"I will if I stay. I've hurt so many…" A painful memory entered his mind, and Juvia knew what he was thinking of. It was the same expression he possessed when first telling her about Ur. She had died a long time ago, but Gray had yet to forgive himself. It was why, she feared, that Gray would never let her get close to him. Unknowingly, the years had worn down his ice barrier. The wounded guy had let her settle by his side, where she quietly started to piece back together his heart. Now the secret was out, and she knew he was trying to protect her from his own demons. "That isn't what you deserve. I won't let it happen to you too."
"Gray-sama…" He looked up at her pained call of his name, brushing the back of his hand against her cheek.
"I'll never take this feeling you've given me for granted. Thank you for tonight, Juvia." Thank you for everything was clearly written on his face, but his inability to voice his feelings got the better of him again. Her heart crushed at the guilt-ridden face he wore, then broke when he let go of her completely. Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her. Gray was trying to leave her. No! She couldn't lose him when she was just starting to expose his feelings for her. Not thinking twice, Juvia pushed out of the chair and threw her arms around his neck. He stumbled back from the force of her body, but Juvia refused to let go. She pressed her face into his neck to hide her fear of him leaving her. Like her dream came to life, Juvia felt her tears catching in her voice.
"Don't leave me!" She screamed, closing her eyes as tightly as she could. The kitchen fell silent except for Juvia's sobbing.
"Ju-Juvia, you just used..." Her body shuttered as she cried out his name, her weight falling against him. Even with tears streaming down her face, Juvia refused to give up.
"Juvia can deal with Gray-sama not loving her or having platonic feelings for her…but to have feelings for Juvia and to leave anyways is cruel. Simply cruel. Face Gray-sama's feelings with Juvia, let Juvia help. Fairy Tail members fight together for what they believe in, and Juvia believes in Gray-sama! Juvia knows Gray-sama is damaged from his past; she knows he loved Ur more than anyone. But Juvia wants to heal Gray-sama's heart, and stay by his side to see him smile for her!" Juvia shouted, tightening her hold around his neck. She felt the hand next to her thigh clench, and she cringed at the thought of him being angry with her. The silence was long, and Juvia prepared for the worst. She did just cling to him like a baby monkey, something Lucy had warned her about. A skim of his hand near her side made her flinch, but he didn't push her away.
"What if I can't be fixed?" Juvia's eyes opened slowly as Gray's forehead dropped onto her shoulder, now leaning against her for support. She felt his hands grasp the back of her dress, fisting the loose fabric in his hands. Pain. That was what he was feeling. Slowly understanding Gray's emotions, Juvia placed a hand to the back of his head as she slowly slid down to her knees. He followed effortlessly, refusing to look up from her shoulder.
"Then Juvia will continue to love Gray-sama the way he is. But Juvia knows Gray-sama's strength; one day, Gray-sama will heal. One day, he'll think of Ur and smile," She whispered, pressing the side of her head to his. Her tears slipped into his hair, not that he would notice such a trivial thing. Juvia held Gray, though his grip on her was much tighter now. She wasn't quite sure how long they stayed like that; she was too focus on soothing Gray to check the time. His tears were silent, and she wouldn't have known he was crying except for the dampness on her shoulder. She also didn't know the moment he stopped crying, but it was around the same time he kissed her again. Much softer than before, Gray's lips gently took Juvia's into their grasp. Juvia was eager to respond, but didn't increase the kiss further than her partner. Soft caresses were exchanged, but nothing too risky. They were both raw from their earlier conversation, and neither was quite ready to push to the next level. Between one of their kisses, Gray had mumbled a quiet 'why?' against her mouth. Each time they separated from a kiss, Juvia whispered another reason she was in love with Gray. By the time she ran out of reasons, she was sure it was almost morning.
"I want to try, if you'll let me." The statement was vague, but then again Gray had always talked like that. Juvia had become a pro at deciphering his code. She looked up at him, opening her mouth to respond. She blinked when something sweet was dropped into her mouth, and Juvia chewed the spongy cake before swallowing. When had he taken it off the table? She watched him take a bite of his own, a hint of a smile showing he liked the taste. "This turned out well, Juvia."
"Th-thank you." They continued to trade off bites silently until Juvia put her hand up, showing she was full. A second later the fork clanked on the ground while Gray encased Juvia in his embrace again. Tucking her head under Gray's chin, Juvia listened to the steady heartbeat that lay just under her ear. She didn't realize how small she was until he put her in his lap, fitting like she was made to be there. The fact that he moved her so close to him was shocking, but she wasn't about to complain. She had just convinced him to stay, after all. "And Juvia wishes to help Gray-sama try."
"Are you sure?"
"How could Juvia say no to you, Gray-sama?" He chuckled at her response, and Juvia felt the rumble from the top of her head down to her toes.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because Juvia loves Gray-sama." He didn't respond, looking out the kitchen window to catch a glimpse of morning light. She didn't need him to speak. Just being in his arms was enough for her to continue loving him. And she knew one day he would love her too.
TA-DAAAA! I know, you're all just squealing with excitement after all the romance that just came out of this chapter. I'm expecting a lot of happy fan-girls. So what is in store for Lucy and Natsu? How will their date go? Will Gray be able to let Juvia love him? Can their relationship withstand every emotional barrier? And who else wants to go eat some frosting now? Yum yum! Well, stay tune for the next chapter!
Chapter 11: Past Scars, Present Feelings