"Are we there yet?" Natsu complained.

"No" Erza responded as the group continued to walk down the dark tunnel.

"Ah, come on. Can we just hurry up and catch the guy already?"

As much as I wish it were that simple we need to keep moving."

Lucy had noticed for a while now that Gray had been awfully quiet. Usually by now he would have at least told Natsu to shut up. But he just continued to walk silently. Lost in his thoughts at the back of the group. Lucy decided to fall back with him, away from the others' ears.

"Hey Gray?" He looked at her as if he'd just noticed she was there.

"Hey"

"Are you okay?"

Gray hesitated with his answer. Was he okay?

"I'm fine" he Said, more so trying to convince himself than Lucy. Which was fine, because Lucy vastness convinced at all anyway. Knowing Gray wouldn't openly tell her, she took a chance.

"It's Juvia, isn't it?" Taking a deep breath, Gray knew there was no point in lying.

"Right before she was captured, something happened. Now I can't stop thinking about it"

"I thought she annoyed you." Gray smirked at this.

"Yeah, well. She has her moments. But, lately they've been less and less. It's like, she's taking a step back."

"And this is making you want to take a step forward?" Lucy asked.

"I guess so."

"Sounds like you two are finally meeting in the middle."

It was true though. Lately, Juvia has taken a step back. Her overly affectionate antics have ceased since he told her he was cutting away things he didn't like. They could now have casual conversations with others without her turning into a possessive fangirl. And it was this change that caused Gray to unconsciously begin wanting to spend more time with her and get to know the real Juvia. Which is what led to the mission where she was captured.

Now, while Gray was worried about her, he was also angry with her for handing herself over, just to save him. When this was all over, he was going to have a serious talk with her about that.

Suddenly the cave began to shake. Rocks on the roof fall to the ground. Out of nowhere, the ground beneath Gray disappeared and Gray fell down the cavern.

"Gray!" He heard the others scream as he continued to fall into darkness.

Just as soon as he began falling he felt his body splash into water. Yet his back felt as though it had smacked into concrete. Standing up, the water reached his knees. Despite the lack of torches, Gray could still see to a certain degree.

He began to walk to a slope that lead to a dry area, til he felt the water's ripples. Ripples that he knew weren't caused by him. But when Gray turned around, no one was there. It wasn't until he felt something brush his ankle that he quickly rushed to shore. Looking back, he saw the water rise up into the air and take on a bodily shape, solidifying itself into

"Juvia!" Gray was surprised. But no. Something was off about her. She just stood there, a blank stare on her face.

"Juvia?" Gray cautiously took a step toward her. This resulted in Juvia shooting a piping hot jet of water at him, knocking him into the wall. The boiling water burned at his skin as though he were on fire. Struggling, Gray managed to put his hands out in front of him and freeze the jet, and fell to the ground.

So we're back to this again, are we?

"Juvia, it's Gray! You need to snap out of it!" Juvia just stood in her battle stance, ready for Gray's retaliation.

"I don't want to fight you." Gray said as she a water cannon at him. This time, he was ready for it though. Streamlining his arms in front of him, he cut the jet in half the moment it hit his finger tips. The cannon continued to fire the jet for several seconds before it stopped. Giving Gray the opportunity to counter attack. Reaching into the water, Gray froze a path to Juvia, the ice reaching up her body so she couldn't move.

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