bits&pieces Chapter 40: You've Done the Unthinkable, a fairy tail fanfic

"You've done the unthinkable, you know. You've made me fall in love."

Tumblr Prompt Request
Requested by: cobblepottantrum (my good friend!)
Rating: M for sensitive language and content

High rise building. Nothing but a silent skyscraper. But that structure, ordinary on the outside, held so much secrets… and blood. The center of the world's best and deadliest contract killers. Where money weighed more than life. The Zenagon.

The higher the floor number, the more dangerous the slayer. On the hundred and first floor, five levels away from the occupants of the highest members of the echelon, there was an echo of fingers tapping on the hard glass atop her office table. The woman had her legs crossed under the table, blue blank eyes stared at the name flashing on her receiver. She wasn't even supposed to receive it, to get a Kill Order. She has already rose from the ranks. Started as a meager foot soldier, climbed to the top of the food chain. At least, to the 100th floor of the Zenagon, where all the second level handlers held office.

"Cobalt, we need confirmation." The desk-bound Zenagon intelligence on the other line waited.

"Affirmative." The woman responded; thankful that she only had to answer through the intercom. Otherwise, her strained expression would have given her away.

"We will send the details through your mobile. Immediately make contact once the kill is secured." This time, there was no need for a response. The order was carved in stone. And if 'Cobalt' failed this mission, she would be marked a traitor of the organization. Her eagle eyes flicked back to the name in the monitor.

SHOOT TO KILL: GRAY FULLBUSTER

Gray Fullbuster was dangerous because if he wasn't, Zenagon would never send 'Cobalt' after him. After all, Gray Fullbuster was the son of the organization's defected chairman and 'Cobalt's' trainer, Silver Fullbuster. She was ordered to kill the son of the only person who treated her as his own child. But it was also Silver who taught her that in their line of work, there was no room for human connection, no space for feelings. That any human emotion would get her killed in the field. For years she always believed it: that feelings were a privilege not available to people like her. The creed allowed her to survive the harsh reality of her world. But he changed it. Cobalt's gratitude wasn't the only thing that started the conflict within her. It was that one thing that she has deprived herself all her life. That one thing that made her question her entire belief system. If money weighed more than life, could it also overcome feelings?

Before she could answer her own question, her cellphone pinged. Cobalt opened the message. Just like how it's always been, the instruction was short and simple: Rooftop. Hargeon Oceanside Hotel.

She didn't know how they found him. Nevertheless, Cobalt had to go to him and carry out her mission. The woman hurriedly opened the top left drawer of her desk and pulled out her Beretta M9. Although she hasn't used it in the field after her promotion, Cobalt weekly tried her service pistol in the organization's shooting range. That way she was confident the Beretta wouldn't fail her when the need arises. After checking that all fifteen rounds were loaded, Cobalt tucked the pistol in the holster strapped around her upper leg and left for her kill.

The intelligence report was spot-on. Zenagon prided itself with superb intelligence gathering. True to the report, Cobalt found her target at the rooftop of the building. But like her, Gray was also an agent. He was trained to be prepared, day and night.

"I knew they'd send you for me. I just didn't think they'd find me that fast."

Cobalt had her prey cornered. With no more roof to run on, Gray finally faced his killer, staring into her menacing blue eyes.

"Give yourself up, Shadow." She addressed him with his Zenagon alter ego which made the latter snicker, wincing at the meaningless name now that they marked him a traitor.

"I think we're past that, Juvia."

Juvia aimed the end of her barrel at Gray's direction. Her years of training had taught her not to flinch, lift a finger or move a muscle, at anything even if Gray had used her real name, exposing her identity. Something considered a mortal sin in their line of work. Juvia, Zenagon's Cobalt, kept her ground, ready to pull the trigger if Gray foolishly made a move. Her trained eyes followed his every moment. She could see him consider his options.

Gray looked behind him; the ocean, as angry as the blue pools drilling a hole on him. He wasn't sure he'd survive the fall but it was the only option left for him if he chose it. Gray gazed back to his assigned killer, searching her eyes to find some salvation. There wasn't. Gray laughed – a dry, humorless laugh that echoed into the wind. At the callous old men of the Zenagon, at the heartless situation they brought the two of them in. It must have been their punishment.

"Spineless jerks." He said, "Sending you, of all people, to kill me? That's just heartless, baby." Even with his life hanging in the balance, Gray was still that insufferable cocky son of a b*tch.

Juvia agreed with him. She didn't have to say it. There were hundreds of people they could send to end Gray's life. They chose her, Gray's own Zenagon handler, to pull the trigger on him. Either out of spite or to serve as a cautionary tale for everyone who'd fall off the wagon, just like Gray and Juvia did. Maybe both. But either way, it was damn tragic.

Gray made tentative steps towards Juvia, taunting, challenging. His usual smug slowly changing his features. But looking closer, there was no challenge or confidence on his expression. There was only resignation.

"Do you really think I am all those things they accuse me of?"

Juvia knew what he was trying to do, she was the one who trained him. She had enough experience to know not to fall for it.

"Don't come any closer or I'll have to–"

But Gray was inching towards her. His steps covered the short distance between them until the end of her barrel hit his chest.

"Then shoot me. If you really think I am capable of all those things, shoot me. Right in the heart."

Juvia released the safety pin on her pistol, pressing the barrel against the plane of his chest. All she had to do was pull the trigger and all her problems would go away. Just a light nudge on that cold steel and he'll be gone… forever.

"It's either me or you, right? So, go on. Shoot me."

He didn't blink. He didn't falter. Juvia could see that he was serious about it. It should be easy, he has resigned to his fate – Shadow dying in the hands of Cobalt. Juvia could feel a slight crack forming on the walls she built up all those years. She knew he could see it too. Despite her efforts not to let anyone get close – too close, it just happened. He might not have been able to tear down the wall entirely but Gray managed to force a crack on that hard façade. She could feel it growing every passing moment.

"You've done the unthinkable, you know." The tears she never knew she could shed started falling down her cheek. Resolved to be faithful to the only life she knew how to live, Juvia allowed the crack to break open, to be true to herself, just this once. "You've made me fall in love." One last time.

She thought the confession would finally free her. That it would finally give her the courage to pull the trigger. But surrendering to her true feelings, Juvia felt the weight of the gun wearing her down.

"I love you, too."

Gray shoved her hand holding the gun away, kicking the firearm away from both their reach. He then grabbed her by the waist, crashing her pliant body against his. Gray pressed his lips against Juvia's, hungrily brushing them as he opened his mouth over hers, deepening the kiss as his hand held Juvia's head in place. She didn't fight it, afraid she wouldn't be able to win. She didn't want to win. But Gray pulled away before she could even respond to his kiss. He pulled away enough only so he could look her in the eyes as the two of them drew staggered breaths. Her deadly blue eyes softened into his, wet by the tears that she shed for him, for them.

Juvia might have finally opened herself up to him but that didn't change anything – certainly not the unforgiving circumstance they found themselves tangled in. If anything, Gray's kiss only made it worse for Juvia. So, he did the only thing he could to save her. Gray plunged a blade into her stomach and pushed her into the ocean with him.

Writer's Corner: I leave the ending to you. :D Don't forget to drop some love! #GruviaForever

Also, thanks to Miharu, Icelyn20, Elf, gruvia-raid, for all the lovin'. You guys keep me going. :D