Synopsis: AU. They needed a girl that was pretty enough, smart enough, and immune enough to the 23-year-old hockey superstar's charms. Juvia was anything but the latter; the benefits alongside the offer, though, were too good to pass up, especially at her current predicament. So…pretending to be Gray Fullbuster's girlfriend wasn't that hard, right?
Proceed with caution.
Standard disclaimers are applied.
Act 5: Music 123; Her Fairy
Gray didn't know what to be more surprised about – the fact that there were three ladies – a musician, a novelist, and a nurse passed out in his living room or the lawyer and friend in front of his door.
He admitted to being fidgety since last night when Juvia wasn't answering her phone.
Why wouldn't he?
Lyon kept filling his mind with thoughts he wouldn't dare think of and his refuge just so happened to have their only connection off because all his calls and messages weren't getting through nor received.
He didn't like it.
If the earlier flight he took would've been delayed even by a few minutes, he would've phoned in everybody in FT to ask for her.
Why did he not think of that in the first place?
Because he didn't want to look like a paranoid, possessive prick.
He was very much aware how Bora treated Juvia even before he met the woman – if all those drunken honesties by the girls he kept hearing and overhearing every time he was at the bar for leisure or for Loke's accursed matchmaking had anything to say about that.
He didn't want to sound distrustful because Juvia had enough doubt in herself for him to add up on.
Little by little, he was able to see the bluenette for who she was and what she can do – what she was best at and Gray did not want that progress to dwindle just because of his paranoia.
"Good morning, Gray. Is Ms. Lockser inside?" came Freed Justin's voice, aware of the dazed state the man of the house was in.
"Uh. Yeah but…" he held a hand behind his neck, feeling the jetlag and embarrassment mixing up.
Freed lifted a brow from the gesture and soon followed when Gray ushered him to the living room, finally aware of the man's reason for his awkward disposition. "Well…" he grumbled and fixed his tie. "I shall see her probably a little later?"
"That'd be a great idea."
When a certain younger bluenette woke up, she noticed a lot of things that weren't there last night:
the evidence of their celebration was supposed to be all over the place;
the sheet draped over them wasn't supposed to be there;
the smell of coffee and…was that milk and even pancakes? shouldn't be filling the air; and
the man of the house who was said to arrive around nighttime… well, had arrived in broad daylight.
Gray had probably felt her presence as he saw the guy's back stop from the fluffy flipping and turned to look behind him. "Oh. Wendy."
Oh. Shoot. She imitated inwardly as she straightened from where she stood. Wendy felt like she was caught in the act even when she had nothing to hide.
She had nothing to hide, right?
The raven-haired hockey player cocked a brow as he settled the breakfast on the table and gestured for her to sit with him.
She nodded meekly and sat across the man who served her a cup of milk and a plate of the pancakes that looked way better than the ones her brother tried to do one time. She took a tentative sip of the warm liquid before forking herself a piece.
By her third piece, she found Gray move from his seat. "So…"
Gulp. Here goes.
"Not that I mind Juvia having company but…"
She saw how Gray struggled with a single question and she just wanted to tell everything she knew to him, but she told Juvia she'd let the older woman say what needed to be said.
But now that she saw how considerate the man had been, she suddenly felt guiltier. The matter was related to Juvia's safety and while she'd been there to control things it didn't mean she – or anybody would always come to the rescue.
Contrary to her worries, Juvia wasn't weak. But it didn't mean that she wasn't one who shouldn't be helped in such situations, or in any situation at that.
"Wendy. I–"
"Juvia got into a fight with Bora last night." Wendy found herself blurting out before looking back to the living room, sighing in relief as both older women weren't up and about.
"Oh." She heard the man across her and couldn't help furrowing her brows at the reaction.
Oh.
Oh?
That was it?
She had expected screaming, slamming of palms on the table, she had expected any sign of a Gray freaking out – but she was met with an Oh. Wendy paused from prying on the guy's sense of panic and decided that she should probably stop with those web novels.
"Can you tell me more about what happened?" echoed Gray's surprisingly cool voice.
Wendy nodded and told him everything, trying to reassure him every now and then. While Gray didn't respond the way she'd expected, she figured it was better this way. By the time she was finished, she asked if he would confront her about it and he nodded matter-of-factly adding the much needed detail that he won't tell on her.
A few moments later, Lucy had joined their breakfast, unaware of the things they talked about. Wendy found Gray talking about his training camp, stirring the conversation away from anything related to Juvia, she went along for a few good minutes before they decided it was time to go.
Gray saw them to the door and was about to leave until the man asked them to drop Everest to Lisanna.
Juvia woke up with a massive headache that made her swore against the bliss of bitter spirits found in those cans.
When she passed Laxus' 'trial', she found herself celebrating with the two – because it was still kept a secret from the others. The party waited until the evening though, as she passed out the moment they reached Gray's condo.
Wendy was also down for the count, much to Lucy's disappointment. But it was to be expected, the blonde thought as the both of them did use a lot of their magic that very early morning.
The pain had become bearable after a while as Juvia registered the softness of her bed –
which should have not been the case because she knew they all fell asleep on the cold floor of the living room.
As well as a pair of unreadable eyes settled on her from a man leaning on her door frame, arms folded –
also shouldn't be the case because he wasn't supposed to be home until passed 7.
Closing her eyes and focusing them back on the door frame, she saw the figure had disappeared. Hmp. Sighing, and still three quarters asleep, she lied back down on the bed, immediately regretting the abrupt action as her head trembled an unrivaled magnitude, making her curl up and grasp onto her hair tightly.
Juvia wasn't aware of the new weight on her bed until she felt strong arms gently sitting her up. "Here, drink these."
The aching was too much for Juvia to rejoice the then-confirmed presence of the man beside her as she took the meds and downed it, hoping the effect would kick off immediately. She felt him stack some pillows behind her, before making her lean on them.
Amid her muddled mind, she felt the gentle brushes against her hair. She couldn't help but snuggle further, surrendering to the feeling of safety in his arms. Safety. The word may have been the trigger as she felt the surge of memories that happened just last night.
When Juvia felt the warmth disappearing, she found herself panicking and immediately sat up from the bed and grabbed on to her source of comfort.
She may have heard an uncharacteristic yelp but was too focused at the task to cuddle her human furnace to bother with it.
"Juvia?"
"Mm?"
"Let go."
Juvia pouted. "No."
"Juvia."
"Yes?"
"Let go."
"No!"
"Juvia!"
"No!"
"You need to let go!"
Gray had said it with too much force that made the clinging woman squirm as it triggered another wave of ache. Infuriated, Juvia let go of her hold and wrapped her arms around him, shouting back.
"Why does Gray want Juvia to let go?! Juvia doesn't want to! Juvia wants to cling to her Gray! Gray can't do anything about that!" she declared as she hugged tighter.
Gray squirmed as he felt her breath hit his stomach from her possessive claim and clutches. And while he wanted to enjoy the feeling, he did not want to be labeled an ass or douchebag or any word along those lines should he go with the things he wanted to do with her.
It wasn't helping that the more he struggled, the more Juvia clung tighter – further feeling Juvia's softness in his…well, hardening…thing.
Fuck.
"Woman, you are banned from my beer stash!"
The constant struggling and shouting took a toll on Juvia as she tightened her hands further around him. She had been feeling weak and tired and…scared.
"Juvia doesn't care! Juvia only wants Gray! You left Juvia for five days! Did you know how lonely Juvia was?! Did you know what Juvia had to go through?! No! Gray doesn't! So Gray should not shout at Juvia!" the bluenette's voice cracked midway but she held on.
Gray stilled as he felt Juvia's body tremble against his. He had wanted to talk about it – about what happened to her last night.
"Juvia can also feel scared. Juvia can also feel pain. Don't tell or ask Juvia to do what she can't and won't ever do. Juvia can take the pain from anybody but Gray…Gray is the last person Juvia should receive that from."
Gray felt his hands clench to fists as the bluenette's arms circled tighter, desperately tighter.
She can take the pain from anybody?
What happened last night? He wanted to ask Juvia why she had to go out at such a time. If Wendy wasn't there…
Gray heaved a breath. Juvia was strong, but she was still a woman – it wasn't meant to degrade her, but it was what she is to Gray: a woman.
His woman.
And he'd be an idiot to let anything happen to her – which made him realize he's more than an idiot because of what did happen.
He wasn't aware.
He wasn't there.
He'd never felt so powerless.
He had been holding back since the nurse told him about it – when the truth was, he was like any other man out there. He wanted to search for this asshole that harassed her. Beat the crap out of him. He'd never felt such rage.
"Juvia, I'm sorry. You know that's not what I meant." Were his strained words as he held onto the woman's shoulders, rubbing circles on them with his thumbs. He felt her grip loosen, taking that opportunity to gently push her back on the pillows. Before he could hear her protests, he quickly slipped in between the sheets and settled himself beside her, making her lean back on his chest.
Gray didn't know how long he caressed her back nor how long he felt tears trickled on his chest, but he stayed like that, patiently nestling the woman in his arms.
Juvia stirred. She wasn't aware how long she'd been out – all she remembered was waking up a few hours ago with a splitting headache… and an aching heart…which both felt like some distant dream.
How she got herself in the embraced state courtesy of the only man that could kill and revive and heal her in a heartbeat, she didn't know.
Since when had he been there? Since when did he arrive?
Not that she was complaining though.
Juvia brushed off whatever thought as she shyly cuddled back on the man. She looked up and traced the contours of the Gray's face, from the long lashes to the knitted brows and the peculiar scar on his forehead. Juvia stifled a giggle.
Even the scar looked hot.
Not wanting to disturb him, she carefully removed the hand that was over her stomach. When she did though, it only made its way back on her, tightening even more. Juvia huffed. She needed to get up, she remembered Laxus saying she needed to talk to Freed today.
"Gray." Juvia whispered as she patted his shoulders.
Gray who had yet to recover from his jetlag opened an eye to find Juvia in a slightly troubled state. Feeling alert, yet cautious, he pushed himself up and leaned back on the headboard. "Mm?"
"Let go." She murmured and patted the hand that was wrapped on her belly.
Half-asleep and fully guilty after remembering what happened to her with Bora and her little breakdown a few hours ago – the latter seeming like she wasn't aware of, he lied back down on the bed, dragging her with him. "No."
Juvia creased her brows.
What in the world?
"Gray, I need to go somewhere. Please let me go." She pleaded and tried to unfasten his hold on her.
Gray, who was behind her, grumbled on her back, nuzzling the soft, smooth flesh. "No."
"But I need to." She struggled more mentally than physically.
"No."
Juvia gawked. "Come on."
More cuddles.
"Please?"
"Fine. But I'll be with you all the time."
"Fine, fine. You will. Now, please?" Juvia admitted to being swooned by that and wanted to burrow herself in the feeling but she had something to do.
She was finally able to breathe for more than the obvious reason as she stretched out of the bed and made her way to the kitchen, helping herself with the breakfast he probably prepared as she poured herself a glass of milk.
"I asked Wendy and Lucy to drop down Evere to Lis, by the way. Have her checked up."
Juvia paused from the bite she was about to take before nodding. Wendy had probably told her about the incident. She felt warm hands cover her free one.
Gray had sat down across her, arms resting on the table as he held onto her hands.
"Hey. I admit to freaking out in my own way and wanting to search and beat the crap outta that ass." He said and Juvia did not know if it was the lingering alcohol in her system but she felt as if Gray's hands were somewhat trembling.
She saw him place their entwined hands at the top of his bowed head, lightly hitting himself as he continued, "I'm sorry I left for five days. I'm sorry for making you feel lonely. I'm sorry I didn't know and wasn't there to stop you from going through what you had to put through. I'm sorry you had to feel scared, that you had to feel pain again. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything."
Gray then lifted his head and her held hand to his lips, kissing them gently. "Forgive me?" he asked, no, pleaded.
Juvia chewed her lip lightly as she realized what had happened a few hours ago weren't some weird, distant dream.
And while she her mind was still muddled as to what in the world she had done to make this proud man yield so much…
How can you say no to that?
True to his words, Gray really did follow her the whole day, much to her amusement and exasperation.
He was with her when they went to fetch Everest, the two sighing in relief after finding out their little pupper was fine.
He accompanied her to the local supermarket to restock their fridge after locking herself for five straight days in the unit.
He went with her when they settled her record signing saying that it was a significant moment he wouldn't want to miss.
But she didn't realize her wish would have a consequence.
While a clingy Gray was a cute one, there were times that he should be aware when to detach himself from her – times as in bathing and changing.
So it was a relief that Lyon phoned him that afternoon, saying that Ul wanted to meet them to test what Iceberg did for the team. With the promise of not going out, Juvia was finally left on her own – because Everest was a sweetie and played quietly on the living room.
A few hours later, she rewarded herself with a bubble bath. Her bruise was already less visible and aching which meant that she can finally play with her instruments again soon. Her thoughts drifted off once more to what happened the past week.
She had confessed her feelings and got the most unexpected of results. She felt what it was like to be away from him. She'd met with people from her past and while it wasn't the happiest of outcomes, she slowly came to terms with it. And she finally reconciled with Makarov, kickstarting her musical career.
Juvia rested her neck at the edge of the tub, nestling the calming flow from the jets at the sides of the whirlpool when she heard a soft click followed by the happy woof from Evere.
She immediately sat up, holding onto the sides of the tub as she turned to the bathroom's door. She locked the door, right?
But the moment she heard another click and the said door flew open, she cursed inwardly and sunk deeper in the tub.
Shit.
"That looks relaxing."
"M-mm. Want to take a soak?" she absentmindedly asked, wrapping her arms around her chest, looking away.
Juvia immediately regretted her courtesy when she saw the man stripping off from his clothes one by one. "Wait! I didn't mean now." She stressed and held a hand in front of him.
But Gray didn't stop and just snorted at her. "I want to go in now though." He said, mimicking her tone.
It had been a rough day for him – both mentally and physically; what with Juvia's situation and the sudden training Ul put him through.
He was at least entitled to have some fun.
Noticing that he was left with his shorts, he reached for the hem but before he could, a shriek came from the naked woman on the white whirlpool. "Don't!"
"If I don't will you let me in with you?" he grinned, playing with the hem of his shorts.
Juvia huffed and scooted away, if it were possible but the more she stalled, the lower the shorts went and while she wanted to enjoy the teasing it was still too much of an attack for the immunity she'd built up. "Fine, fine!" she yielded.
Gray smirked in triumph, making his way to tub. The water overflowed as he sunk himself in, caging the naked woman in between his legs and settling his aching back to where the water streamed from.
Juvia felt like hyperventilating and cursing herself. She was a grown woman – endowed with features she shouldn't the least be ashamed of!
Juvia freaking Lockser you are capable of seduction! Do not abort!
But she couldn't find her sexy self at the moment, not when Gray had snaked his arms on her stomach, pulling her closer to him and nuzzling his nose on her neck. The gesture was actually sweet…if they weren't wet and naked.
Juvia's scent was intoxicating for Gray; he had missed her. The past days had proven just how much he didn't want to part with her as well as that…predicament she had to go through so he was indulging every moment he could get being with her.
He knew what it meant when Juvia signed those Raijuu documents. She was going to be busy, too, in the future. The thought made him snuggle her more, even if he was also restraining himself.
He really wanted to relax the moment he came home. The unwinding he had thought of, though, were merely variations of passing out wherever he can – the bed or the sofa or the carpeted floor.
But Juvia just had to make him do the least of things he'd ever think of. She just had to forget locking the door and then unintentionally invite him with her – well, he knew what she really meant but he was a grown man with things he can't control – one of them, being anything and everything associated to this blushing woman in his arms.
He soon found her knuckles turning white at the squeezing she did to her reddening shoulders. Sighing lightly, he released her hold on her and placed his arms on the tub's edges; his neck leaning back as he kept his nonchalant façade and assured her. "Just relax."
Not.
End of Act 5
Hello, there! Again, I am very sorry for the slow update. I would like to thank everybody who are still with me on this fiction. It brings me tons and heaps and uber so much joy to be aware that this either brings little to limitless feels to everyone reading it.
One more Act to go and it's a wrap. I'm overwhelmed considering that I took a leap of faith on the writing of this fiction; I had little expectations of it because (1) I haven't written any prose or poetry for a while, (2) I'm not confident with my portrayal of characters as well as handling the flow, (3) It's a first for this fandom, (4) my depression spikes, (5) English isn't my native language, (6) I'm a sucker for clichés. The list could go on but that's just me (further) giving excuses /sweatdrops/
Keep safe, everyone! Let me continue hearing your thoughts!
So Mashima said it's fun reading what fans say about his work and I think every author's like that, too. You don't know how much your reviews mean to us. It really keeps the fire burning! So don't hesitate on letting us know if you're still there, our avid GrUvia shippers! Much love.
-nakneknik