Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

Chapter 35: Wave

He didn't bother to formulate any actual statement or question. His lips remained pressed in a tight line, stray bits of hair tickling the side of his rough cheekbones. He had decided to forgo the hair gel for this particular mission, since he hadn't really anything to prove with just the style. Gajeel was simply there to observe; no interaction or intimidation or good old-fashioned destruction. None of those things were allowed, and there was an element of it that really set him on edge.

He was a dragon slayer of Phantom Lord! He shouldn't have to remain idle and babysit! Jose was one sick fucker if he thought such an outing would benefit Gajeel. And if the bastard thought that he was going to get away with not telling Gajeel to bring an umbrella either, then he had another thing coming.

"Juvia's found it."

He waited till she was right next to him before he spoke. "All the pieces?"

"All of them. They were not so difficult once she gave them some motivation."

"So you did get some action in," he groaned, not liking how the clouds were gathering above the ocean at an abnormal speed to mimic the current rain cloud she was sporting just above her vibrant umbrella. He stared out at the ebb and flow of the water before him, its rhythmic motions growing more and more wild and choppy with each passing moment.

"What'd they say?"

The rain woman did not answer him, the silence filling up with the sound of raindrops plinking against the ocean and dip into the sand. Her motionless frame and ever present umbrella seemed more stark than ever on the beach, its inhabitants dissipating at Gajeel's scowl and the incoming storm clouds. Even when the water soaked through his clothes, sucked up by cotton and leather only to coat his skin and hair with reckless abandon, his scowl persisted. He blinked drops out of his eyes without a second thought and remained a fixture until her voice finally graced his ears again.

"Juvia heard nothing she has not heard before."

He tsked and made to move but her skin upon his stalled him. It was as if she had known his intentions... "What?"

"Gajeel will do something he regrets."

"I don't regret things. Or feel pity or guilt. I do as I please, woman."

"But you shall do them no harm." At the order, he raised his pierced eyebrow. "Yet."

He smirked. "I thought so."

"Juvia believes Gajeel lack the control to restrain yourself. She wants Gajeel's word that he will not harm them yet."

"Words aren't exactly my thing, rain woman."

"Look at it," she said instead, raising her finger to point out past the rain filled beach to the ocean that grew and shrank with the wind's desperate motions. "It goes up and down, crashes and falls, but does not cease. One day, Juvia shall return to her ocean. And so shall Gajeel. Until then, Gajeel and Juvia will wait and take the rain until it is time to rise and fall again."

"I take it it's not time yet, huh?" Then, at her affirmation, "And it I don't take orders from you?"

"Then it shall be the first thing you regret." The clouds rumbled, an echo of her threat taking place in the sky as she stared him down darkly. Her pose was just as delicate and feminine as before but she more power than he had ever seen in a woman before.

"And how exactly would you do that?"

"Juvia has her ways," she said with a sudden grin. "She has heard that Ryos has not yet learned to swim."

He narrowed his eyes into slits. That bitch was willing to drown his self-proclaimed disciple to prove a point? "Yer fucked up."

"And you will be obedient. Juvia desires your word, Redfox."

He opened his mouth to say something else before feeling a rush of water sink through his boots. He didn't need to look down to see that the ocean's waves had made their way up shore, surging toward Juvia, who appeared to be almost floating over it. In moments, she could have him up to his ears in water, and in less time she could likely drown him. He wasn't the best swimmer, he though morbidly.

"Fine," he spat out, feeling the weight from his chest lift as the water receded at her will.

"Juvia is glad we have an...understanding."

Fuck, the woman was as volatile as the element she commanded. Red eyes locked on her figure as it passed him and lowered herself towards the shore as if it was a grave she wished to place flowers upon. Her fingers touched the shoreline briefly before she returned to her full height.

"Why is it so important to ya?"

"It is the only thing that understands Juvia and Juvia is the only one that understands it."

"It's just water," he scoffed, turning away from her. "We can see it whenever we want."

He didn't noticed the lightening of the rainfall, if only slightly, and continued walking. All he needed to understand was that she was formidable and dangerous and powerful and darkened.

And that was all he needed to respect her.

"Yes, she shall return," she mused, falling into step behind him. "You will be with her and when the time comes, you will lay waste to this place."

His silence was consent and the pair headed back to their guild with different views of one another than when they had started the journey.