AN: Hey readers, long time no see! Yeah, I came back from the dead (aka three-month long radio silence) :') Didn't do a lot of writing during this crazy-ass semester (if I didn't love my program so much I would have totally lost it)^^' Hope everyone wasn't too overwhelmed with school or work and is doing well in this beginning of 2021~
I finally offer you Chapter 8! Took quite a while though, I must admit. I realized that as much as I love Gray and Juvia, I didn't really understand Gruvia even though I shipped them. Not overanalyzing them like I did with my OTP (Gajevy), I didn't know how to give them proper character developments. And I could not not give them personal growth like Gajeel and Levy. So, cathelerein explained me the ship (as it is her OTP) through their interactions and reactions to each other's attics! We even made a kind of timeline of their feelings to help me x) Now, I totally get them and love these two even more :3
Well, at least, here is our take on Gruvia and their love in this chonker of a chapter (8953 words, 14 pages)(sorry, couldn't be split)!
Hope it will make up for the wait^^ Enjoy~
Chapter 8: The Ice Prince and the Water Witch
Under the darkening sky, Juvia walked in light steps, quite pleased with herself. Despite Gajeel's brush-off, the Water mage knew that he was going through an emotional growth regarding his true feelings. As a Love Ally, she rejoiced in the thought of his future date almost as much as the prospect of her own. She could almost picture it; Gajeel would try to play it cool with his gruff attitude but would grow soft as soon as he'll see the petite bookworm read.
Juvia knew the drill; it didn't take more than five minutes for Gajeel to walk up to her, either to talk or most likely to tease. Ten minutes and thirty-two seconds had been the maximum he achieved, and it was only because she had made the remark to him about how often Gajeel and Levy were together. Even his ridiculous male ego hadn't succeeded in keeping him away from her. Juvia wasn't complaining; she found it quite endearing.
It was on Tenrou Island that she had noticed the first spark. Without wanting to build too much hope, she had wished that her friend would soon know the joys of love. It was a hope she had for him ever since she discovered these joys with Gray-sama. In Phantom Lord, despite their friendship, Gajeel had always been awfully alone. He always said he liked it better that way, but Juvia knew better. Solitude drained the heart.
He seemed way happier now, which overjoyed her. He did deserve more love in his life, and she was glad Levy could bring him that. And not only because it would mean the bluenette would stay away from her beloved Gray. She would be happy for them. Genuinely happy.
Juvia wondered if Gajeel would finally tell Levy that he loved her. Had he listened carefully to her exposé about maiden's pure hearts and how to swoon them? She hoped so. It would help him in case of doubt.
She abruptly stopped on her tracks, punctuated by a loud gasp that startled a passerby. Had she forgotten to tell him he needed to change his approach strategy?! Tease Levy wouldn't do it this time, if Gajeel hoped to achieve real progress with her! Juvia bit her nails, racking her brain, trying to remember. Had she failed as Love Ally? She sighed in defeat. She would have to trust Gajeel's own judgment not to mess up. He might be a Love Newbie, but she believed in him.
After all, his love would surely make him think of romantic gestures. Hadn't love proven to be stronger than anything? It would overcome Gajeel's typical gruff attitude and show his true feelings. And then a new couple would be formed! So long, Love Rival #7. Then, she'd only have to deal with Lucy, Erza, Wendy, Cana, Ultear and Lyon.
She let out a miffed sigh. As much as she understood why Gray was so popular (after all, he was the dreamiest of them all), it still annoyed her, having to deal with so many rivals. Some of them seemed to have some advantages over her, such as shared childhood memory. She even heard an appalling rumor saying he once took a bath with a girl. Even if he were a kid at the time, her mind couldn't help but see it as an unforgivable lead from one of her Love Rivals. Had someone already stolen Gray-sama's heart? Was she too late? She shook her head, wanting to chase those unpleasant thoughts, solely focusing on her beloved Gray. She needed to see him to soothe her mind.
Focusing on her surrounding to get to him more quickly, she looked around. Couples were walking holding hands, enjoying the evening in pairs. A man even had his boyfriend partly wrapped in his jacket to protect him from the cold. The sight warm Juvia's heart. She couldn't wait for Gray-sama to do such sweet attentions to her.
Though she hoped, she knew for a fact that it wouldn't be anytime soon. Still, it made her wonder. Why hadn't Gray-sama reacted to her advances? Not that she minded, but the status quo between them confused her at times. Her feelings for him were quite clear, but his answers never were. Her hope still lived on as he never gave her a flat "no". The Ice Mage might seemed cold to some people, but Juvia knew that there was more to it. Something was holding him back.
She wouldn't pry though. As curious as she was, she respected his boundaries. However, sometimes she couldn't help but hope for an answer. Any answer…
Instinctively, she brought her hand to her winter hat, lightly brushing the yellow flower brooch. It had been a Christmas gift from Gray-sama, although no one knew it was from him. She remembered the day quite vividly.
The guild had thrown a huge party for Christmas, and Mirajane had organised their traditional Secret Santa event. She had drawn out of the hat Cana's name. Of course, Juvia had never considered not giving a gift to her beloved Gray no matter the drawing results, and so she had prepared two gifts for the party.
For Cana, she had sewn a body pillow, in the shape of a bottle of beer, which made the Magic Card Mage grin happily and say something along the line of how she had even less reasons to have a boyfriend since she would be more comfortable with her new pillow.
For Gray, she had sewn him a long dark overcoat, with white outline, a style she figured would underline his strong build and his natural coolness. She had waited for the short moment between the gift exchange, and the many other activities and games that Mira had planned, judging it to be the perfect time to give it to him.
As expected, Gray didn't want to accept it at first, saying the rule said a gift per person. It was a tradition to only do as such in order to not bankrupt anyone by having to buy gifts to everyone in the guild, a feat above anyone's paygrade. However, Juvia didn't let it go, as she was sure it would still make him happy. Gray then sighed but accepted it.
As he teared the happily smiling snowmen themed wrapping, Juvia saw his eyes widened with a faint spark of amazement. When he held the overcoat in front of him, examining it, her heart leaped in happiness. His contentment was short-lived when Erza and Cana started to chant for him to do a fashion show. Red in embarrassment and anger, he refused adamantly until both Erza and Mira's dark auras made him comply.
Juvia's happiness was complete when she saw how handsome he looked in her gift, and despite his bashfulness, he seemed quite pleased with his new piece of clothing. She could tell by the ghost of a smile on his lips when their eyes briefly met.
The rest of the evening went just as well, people drinking and dancing after the series of mini games they had. As people began to fall from exhaustion, Juvia looked around and noticed that most girls were also already sleeping on the floor. Being the only one standing still from Fairy Hill, she decided to head home by herself.
She hadn't taken more than three steps outside that a voice had called her name. His voice. Averting her eyes, his cheeks slightly red, he had said in a low voice, "At this hour, there's a lot of weird people outside… So..." He scratched the back of his head and instead of finishing his sentence, he started walking towards Fairy Hills, only pausing to make sure she followed.
Overwhelmed with happiness, she hadn't minded his roundabout way of telling her he would walk her home. They had walked in silence, admiring the beauty of the snowflakes falling on this peaceful night.
They had stood outside Fairy Hills in silence for a few seconds, allowing Juvia to admire Gray-sama's profile as he watched the sky. Having thought it was the conclusion of his gentleman-like attention, she had wished him once more "Merry Christmas" and "Good night". As she had turned away to open the door, she heard him clear his throat. Curious, she had turned back to him, wondering if everything was alright, and had seen him hold a small white box with a red ribbon.
"Figured you'd give me something… So, here," Gray had said, nonchalantly, but still averting his eyes.
Juvia had felt like the whole universe had lighten up. Feeling a cozy warmth spread through her body, she had taken the gift between her hands, her vision tunneling to this sole thing. She had taken off the lid to see a beautiful yellow brooch, the flower shape highlighted by embedded gems with a darker yellow shade.
A light blush colored her cheeks. He did care for her, but he was shy with his emotions. It wouldn't damper her own feelings. Juvia was a patient woman. She could wait for him. However, it didn't mean she wouldn't try to help him understand and face his feelings.
She looked up to read the street name to situate herself in the city. Currently at the intersection of General Winter Street and Boreal Avenue, she knew that the museum was only a few streets away. She had checked a map of the city while in the hotel and had memorized it, paying more attention to the romantic locations pinned down for unaware tourists, the Ice-Sculpture Museum being the one that caught her eyes for obvious reasons.
The Water Mage quickened her pace and finally reached the famous attraction. The Museum was an impressive structure, its white stone giving it the appearance of a construction made of snow. It was an artwork of its own right. Juvia could have stay there to admire it longer if she hadn't seen the silhouette of Gray-sama inside. Her heart flustered. He looked so cool and mature with his hands in his pockets and his coat loosely flying as he disappeared inside. His appearance was as sharp as his jawline, Juvia sighed in awe.
Emerging from her daydream, she hurried towards the entrance, hoping she wasn't too far behind. She pushed eagerly through the revolving door, just in time to see Gray entering the first exhibition room as coolly as ever. Juvia went to the counter and asked politely but earnestly one ticket. She had already her Jewels in hand to pay, but the woman had another question before charging her.
"Would you like the audioguide?" the kind lady asked. "It really brings the whole romantic side of the exhibition."
Normally, nothing would stray her from Gray-sama, but the word "romantic" echoed in her mind alongside her hope for a date.
"The romantic side?" Juvia tilted her head, now interested.
The cashier nodded, an engaging smile on her lips. "Yeah. Each statue has a different story. Some come from legends, others from real life. But, they're all beautiful, in my opinion. Especially "The Ice Prince and the Water Witch", a story from our local folklore. With the Fire Princess and the Water Sorceress. A story of love, jealousy and passion."
Juvia's attention had been lost after the mention of the Ice Prince as her imagination had already reign in, visualizing an image of Gray in a prince attire.
"Juvia will take one, please!" she exclaimed, already ready to hand her Jewels to the startled cashier.
"Ah, I should have mentioned first," the woman smiled, a little apologetically. "But it's an extra of…"
Before the woman could finish her sentence, the Water Mage had already more Jewels in hand. Bringing them closer to the cashier, as if to insist that she'd take it, she said, "Juvia doesn't mind. At all."
The cashier had a nervous laugh (maybe intimated by so much enthusiasm) and slid both the ticket and the audio guide through the slot.
"Thank you! No need for the change!" Juvia waved energetically, already bolting to the last place she saw Gray. She barely heard the "O-okay, have a nice visit…" from the cashier. After all, she was a woman on a mission, she tried to remind herself.
Hurrying up the flight of stairs, the thought of her mission flew out of the window as soon as she laid eyes on the first exhibition room. The dark blue walls stood tall and mighty, giving the impression to be inside a castle rather than a museum. Placed in a way that no statue hid another, they shone with a faint glow, the ice reflecting the chandeliers' light. Knights, princesses, creatures of legends and little people posed with a transcendent grace. They look so realistic, that it seemed they were real beings froze in the middle of their motion. Even from afar , Juvia could see how detailed the statues were, how much work went into them. They were absolutely breathtaking. True artwork, unlike she has ever seen. The delicacy and the elegance of the ice shown to its most polished way. A beauty that brought tears to her eyes.
Juvia walked towards a first one, mesmerized by a beautiful woman holding a flower to her nose, seemingly at peace. Her eyes lingered on the intricate embroidery on her dress. The lines were so sharp yet so detailed, a talent she only saw in Gray's Ice Make. She had no doubt her beloved would be able to replicate such complex designs. At the thought of him, her head snapped up. Where was Gray-sama? She only lost sight of him for a few seconds and he was already gone.
The Water mage walked steadfastly towards the second room where surely Gray had gone. However, her motion was brought to a stop when her attention got caught by the sight of an ice sculpture that look like her beloved Gray. Wearing a lavish outfit and sitting on a throne, she suspected the statue to represent the Ice Prince the cashier had mentioned. He had the same unkempt hair and sharp features. The figure even held the same kind of melancholy she could see in the Ice Mage's eyes sometimes. She gawked for what seemed like a few seconds when someone cleared their throat to call her attention. Startled, she turned her head to meet the eyes of an elderly couple.
"I'm sorry, my dear," the old man gently said, bundle up with hand knitted layers of clothing, surely made by his wife. "Could you manage to give us a little spot in front of the statue? We have reached this part of the story and my wife can't see properly if she's not close… If you don't mind."
The elderly couple looked at her with kind eyes and soft smiles. The man stood taller and the old lady was holding onto his arm, her other hand on her cane. The query made her realize she had been inconsiderate of people around her, of which she quickly apologized. "Juvia is so sorry! She didn't realize! Please, do take her place!"
"No need, dear," intervened his wife. "We can all look at it together. Aren't you still listening this part of the story?"
"The story? Oh, no, Juvia was just looking…"
"Oh, but sweetie!" She protested. "You can't miss out on the narrative! You can't start the story in the middle~" She gently scolded her, punctuated with a playful wink.
Juvia tilted her head, confused. The old man caught on and explained, "There's an order to the story. The first statue is that one over there. You simply follow as the audio guide tells you. As locals, we highly recommend it; the Ice Prince story is beautiful."
Hearing the praise of this story for a second time, her desire of looking for Gray-sama was (for a first time) outweighed by her curiosity. It would have been normally impossible, but the legend included an Ice Prince who looked awfully like her beloved. Besides, Gray-sama was on a mission and had to stay in the museum. She'll be able to catch up with him when she'd be done.
"Then, Juvia shall follow your advice and listen to it properly. Here, take her place."
With a gesture, she invited them to stand where she was. As they moved slowly, she noticed a movable bench to her right, where they most probably were beforehand. Juvia quickly went to retrieve it and then placed it behind the couple for them to sit.
"Thank you, sweetie," the old woman smiled. To which the old man, added, "You are most kind. The person who is in your heart is very lucky."
Juvia smiled shyly, her mind flickering back to Gray-sama. She bowed her head slightly to bid them farewell.
"Thank you both! Juvia will let you enjoy the rest of your date! Goodbye~"
They both waved. The old man handed an earbud to his wife, sharing a single audio guide. The sight made her heart melt. Growing old together seemed to be such a wonderful thing. Sharing their lives for so long, they must have so many happy memories together. With a happy sigh, she skipped to the statue the couple had pointed as the beginning of the tour. It was the same character, the melancholic Prince, but on this installment, he was standing on what seemed to be a balcony, his eyes casted down, surely to portray the loneliness of royalty and the distance he felt from his people.
She looked at the small inscription at the bottom and then she inserted the number written on the bottom part in the tape guide. A deep yet soothing voice started narrating the story titled "The Ice Prince and the Water Witch".
Long ago, when magic was still but a seed yet to bloom lived a young Prince with a cold demeanor but a warm heart. He reigned with kindness, as life had taken a lot from him and taught him to never take happiness for granted.
After that last word, a bell sound rang, the cue indicating to move to the next statue. In the midst of pine trees stood a scary figure, of a woman with diabolical features. Half hidden, her stance was clearly predatory, a threat. With this statue, the emphasis was more on the atmosphere than the character.
One day, rumors came to his kingdom in which was said that in the Medio Forest a Witch turned people into puddles of water. The Prince then volunteered to put an end himself to this terror, fearing for his people's wellbeing and for the peace.
The third statue was one that played with perspective, the prince closer to the viewer, both observing a pretty woman with a somewhat rustic apparel, sitting near a cascade.
After many days of travel, the Prince finally found the Witch near a waterfall. Readying his sword, he heard a melodic voice, asking him to not come closer for his own good. His curiosity piqued, he asked what she meant. She explained that she was cursed as a child with the magic of water and that anyone who meets her gaze turn into water, forcing her at the same time to be alone forever.
The next statue was the woman, the rumored evil witch, her back turned and her face hidden between her hands. Her posture showed a clear desire to protect the Prince from her curse, though he stood besides her, his hand extended to reach for her.
Her story had touched the Prince. Seeing no ill intention in her, he felt the need to help her. Turning the problem in his head, the Prince came up with an idea to bypass her curse. For her to have a normal life, he risked it all when he looked through the ice cap. The Witch tried to stop him, fearing for the life of the first person who cared for her. What wasn't her surprise when she saw he was alright. As the two young people looked at each other, something changed. Hope took a hold on the Witch's heart. Hope and a love for him that wouldn't cease to grow the more time she spent with him.
The bell rang once more and Juvia moved to the statue where both characters stood in what seemed a town, the witch now wearing a pair of glasses.
The Prince invited her to come with him and live in his kingdom, since, after all, the Witch was now freed from her solitude. As soon as they arrived, he ordered a pair of protective glasses for her, so she would see but not turn people into puddles. At first, people were wary, but soon they quickly stopped to fear her. Although she grew closer with people, the Witch felt displeased as she had to share the Prince with others.
Now, the statue had a third figure, a princess which beauty was mesmerizing. The prince was turned towards this new character while the witch had her back turned but her face angled in a way that she was still watching. Her expression was twisted, unlike her happier demeanor on the previous one. Juvia felt a twinge of compassion for her.
Meanwhile, having heard of the heroic feat the Prince did, the neighboring kingdom offered to form an alliance to strengthen both kingdoms. The Prince agreed, foreshadowing an era of peace. However, what had begun as a purely political agreement bloomed into something more when he met the Princess. She had a beauty that could rival the stars and a bright personality that could overshadowed the warmth of the sun. Love blessed their encounter, and an engagement naturally followed.
The Witch was mortified by the news and wanted to put a stop to it. No matter her schemes, the incidents only brought the young couple closer. The date of their marriage was just around the corner and the Witch felt the Prince slip away from her.
Unable to take off her eyes of the statues and totally absorbed by the narration, Juvia felt her heart tightened and her eyes burn with forming tears. The last sentence was hitting too close from home, but she couldn't bring herself to stop listening.
Her jealousy reaching a peak, she planned to get rid of her rival once and for all. Her love had become obsession and so the thought of having him taken away from her was unbearable. When the door opened, expecting his fiancé, her cursed eyes met the Prince's. In shock, her mind barely had time to grasp the amplitude of her mistake that he was already fading away, becoming water.
As her eyes went to the next statue, Juvia felt her knees weakened when she saw the distress on the Witch's face as the Prince slowly dissolving into water, lost forever. The Water Mage could feel the woman's grief, her heartache as it was her own. The similarities with herself were simply too much and the climax, this tragedy, scared her as if she was the cause.
The pain, the guilt drove her mad and so she jumped out of the window into the ocean, becoming one with the thing that poisoned her life. Water, when hurled by a storm, by jealousy, becomes unpredictable and cruel.
Juvia let her tears run down freely, overwhelmed. She had to rationalize. It wasn't Gray-sama. It wasn't her. She repeated it like a mantra. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread she felt. There were many parallels she could draw from her own life.
When meeting her love, Juvia, too, was first bemused by his prince appearance, his handsomeness, his coolness. Just like the Witch, she had been grateful and relieved beyond words that her rain was gone, the sun brightening the sky thanks to him. Just like the Witch, it was the first reason why she liked Gray-sama. On top of being beautiful, he was kind, even to his enemy, a quality she saw oh so rarely. Among her previous guild, niceties always hid intentions, hope of repayment. So, when she met Gray, it was a shock, but also a blessing. Someone who didn't know her, from whom her (ex) guild had done harm, helped her, out of the goodness of his heart. Thanks to his kindness, she felt hope that people could simply be kind. That people could like her despite her quirks. That people like her deserved second chances.
From the outside eye, her love at first sight might seem superficial or a silly reason to like someone so much, but to a romantic like Juvia, Gray was an ideal she could only dream of. Both handsome and good, it was enough to make her fall in love. In the wake of Phantom Lord disbandment, a new beginning presented itself when Master Makarov reached out to her. Not only would it allow her to be close to the person whom she now hold dear to her heart, but the old mage gave her the opportunity to walk a better path.
As soon as she joined Fairy Tail, she looked for ways to repay the Ice mage's kindness. In the form of gifts and of attentions, she showered him with her love. Unable to contain the affection she felt, Juvia might have gone overboard with social norms, but her heart had so many emotions to live. Most of her ex-boyfriends fretted at her enthusiasm and her romanticism which led them to either run away from her or push her away. Although Gray-sama was frequently (not to say, always) embarrassed by her eagerness, he never made her feel bad about it. His kindness overshadowed his bashfulness. Eventually, she managed to understand and to deal with his embarrassment as she got to know him.
Her resolve to show her gratitude by making him happy was solidified when she noticed a sadness in the depth of his dark eyes. She realized that just like Juvia, he carried a weight, a sorrow hidden behind his detached demeanor. Maybe, a fear of getting hurt? Being very aware of such pain leaving scars best left untouched, the Water Mage didn't pry. She knew everyone healed differently. All Juvia could do was to be there for him. For this secret pain of his, she would be there to bring joy in his life and maybe comfort him, if he ever needed. Some people dealt with their trauma by internalizing it to learn to live with the scars. Not all pain faded away no matter how much time passed by. Juvia knew it too well.
However, her life was better now, a huge part of which was thanks to Gray-sama. She wanted to bring him the same peace and happiness he gave her. Once again, just like the Witch, she wanted to be his special someone, to have a special place in his heart. The smiles he gave that were not meant for her scorched her soul. Her ever growing feelings for him inadvertently ignited something in her, something like selfishness, something that she never allowed before. Although she knew she couldn't possibly be the one girl in his life, the only one to whom he looked and smiled, she couldn't help but wished to have all his love and attention.
But now, seeing the tragic end that happened to someone who was driven by envy and jealousy, it scared her. Wasn't she too jealous sometimes? Was she driven Gray-sama away with her passion? She fidgeted with the headphone's wire. Her thoughts brought her to Lucy and now Levy. It stirred something in her. The seed of envy and jealousy was still there. Could it bring the same destruction as in the story? No. Juvia would never hurt Gray-sama. However, she feared it could taint their relationship.
As much as she sometimes noticed that her jealousy was flaring unreasonably, she never seriously looked into the matter. Out of fear, she ignored it, but if she allowed herself to be honest, she knew what caused her jealousy. It was her past scars. They itched when a girl got too close to Gray-sama. It flashed memories of loneliness, of every time she got rejected. The fear of not being accepted and loved for who she was never faded away. The thought of his rejection ached her heart more than any of these past deceptions. When the dark part of her mind was especially wicked, all she could see was Gray-sama's back, as he walked away from her, leaving her to her solitude.
Under her optimism laid quiet insecurities. She never paid much attention to them, but they were there. On the days where Gray seemed overly embarrassed or worst annoyed, Juvia couldn't hold them back. She was aware that she could come too strong on people, but that was simply how she was. There was no way she could change herself to her core. The clouds would gather, and she would spiral down, trying to find what she did wrong.
The girls would try to cheer her up, putting in perspective the incident. Gray, despite his stripping habits, was easily embarrassed and there was nothing that could be done about it. One time, during a Fairy Hill sleepover, one of the girls even suggested to move on, saying that a girl as enthusiastic and lively as Juvia would be happier with someone not as taciturn and close-off as Gray. Beyond the belief that it was a ploy orchestrated by a Love Rival, the Water mage explained that it was in fact because of their differences that Gray and her would make sense. They balanced each other. The turmoil and passion that lived inside her was soothed by Gray's proximity. He also continued to inspire her to never give up and work hard to make the world a better and safer place for her loved ones.
Where some people judged Gray to be a bit paradoxical (stripping versus easily embarrassed), Juvia saw a fascinating complexity to his character. Behind the discouraged smile he had when he watched his friends goofing around, laid the affection he had for his foster family. Behind the detachment in which he partook dangerous missions, laid a fierce desire to protect the weak. Behind his stripping habits, laid his abs, erm, a past that shaped who he was now.
Getting to know him, Juvia discovered more reasons to love him. But, maybe along her love, she let her jealousy grow just as much. Now, seeing what it could bring to someone, even though it was a legend, a story, made her put some things into perspective. All she wanted for Gray was for him to be happy. If her love, as true as it was, put that into jeopardy, what was the point?
Juvia clenched her fists. She would never hurt him. She wouldn't allow it. No matter the degree, she wouldn't. She had to learn to control her dark thoughts. She had to. It would be a long and tedious road, but for him, she could do it. As painful as it would be to see him with someone else, it wouldn't be as unbearable as being the cause of his misery. Her heart grew heavy, but her mind was clear. The most important for her was for Gray to simply be happy because he deserved it and much more. For that, even her heartbreak would be worth it. This resolution wasn't her giving up on Gray. It was the will to make this love truer. Jealousy couldn't bring anything good as it was a negative emotion. To overcome it, she'd have to face her hidden insecurities head-on and vanquish her envy. It wasn't as if others could steal away the moments she had with Gray nor the connection she felt they had.
Although Juvia was made of water, she wouldn't let herself be like the sea under a storm, uncontrollable and cruel. She was stronger. Her negative emotions wouldn't get the best of her. They wouldn't poison her relationships.
She looked at the statues once more. These people made of ice, frozen in their story forever, had taught her a valuable lesson. On her hand clenched over her heart, she felt a drop fell on it. Surprised, she realized she had been crying. With her index, she caught the tear forming on the corner of her eye. She looked at it, remembering the nights when she would silently cry, wondering if people would ever like her despite her rain. Her tears were the only reminiscence of her rain. Without consciously naming it that, her powers had felt like a curse. Seeing it as such, she let it reign over her life. Now, she could see it made her who she was. A girl who lived passionately to make up for the lack of sun in her life and who never took anything for granted.
However, she couldn't get greedy and want all the sunshine for herself. She had to… share her beloved Gray to some extent. After all, friendships were also important. It would tear her heart if she had to give up her friendship with Gajeel for Gray-sama's love. Her reason knew that, but her emotions had a hard time to follow through. Maybe, somewhere else in the museum, there was a story, a moral that could guide her on how to fight the jealousy, this enemy within.
Having found a noble purpose, one that would help her secure Gray-sama's happiness, she walked with determination through the second room. Observing carefully the statues and the inscriptions below to see which one would best fit her predication, she settled for the sculpture of a demoness who wanted to be human. Her expression of distress appealed to Juvia, as the sculptor presented the scene in which she acquired a human heart and felt overwhelmed by the emotional range. The Water mage eagerly entered the statue's number to hear how the demoness overcame the novelty of feelings.
As the deep and soothing voice narrated the legend, Juvia became less and less aware of her surroundings, being totally immersed in the story, feeling what the protagonist was feeling. She hadn't heard the footsteps of someone approaching. She didn't feel their presence as they abruptly stopped near her. However, she couldn't ignore the sound of her name.
"Juvia?"
She tore her eyes away from the statue and turned to where the voice came. Gray-sama was standing there, seemingly dumbfound. His obvious surprise didn't remind her that until now, she had been following him incognito, and that there was no logical explanation to why she was in the same museum as him, miles away from Magnolia.
"Gray-sama, you have to listen to this," Juvia promptly said with the delight of a fangirl.
As she said that, she grabbed his arm to bring him closer. She then took off her left earbud and gently placed it on Gray-sama's ear.
"Juvia will rewind to the beginning, so you can enjoy it as much as her," she beamed, happily, barely noticing the redness of his ear. She pressed the button, and the narrator started the story once more. The girl then turned towards the sculpture; the improbability of the situation completely forgotten in the mist of her current bliss.
Gray was puzzled. Several things made no sense, but oddly enough they also made sense. Juvia was here. As improbable as it was, it didn't surprise him that much since she was always somewhere in his vicinity. It kind of became a constant in his life. So, no, it wasn't her presence that surprised him the most, but rather the fact that he was the one who spotted her first instead of the other way around.
Normally, Juvia would instantly flock to wherever he was. Yet, this time, he was the one who went to her. Otherwise, she might not have seen him, oddly enough, as she was happily listening to an audio guide in the same museum as he was, not paying much attention to him. Or not as much as usual. Not that Gray wanted to be hug-tackle, but the contrast unsettled him. Was she alright?
He glanced to Juvia. Her eyes sparked as she looked at the statue in front of them, hanging on the narrator's every word.
She looked more than alright. She looked happy. And beautiful.
His brain threw that last word unexpectedly, making him realize he had stared. Abashed, he turned his head, pulling the earphone. Quickly, he put his hand against his ear to prevent the earbud from falling. He risked another glance and saw that Juvia was now looking at him, worried.
"Are you okay, Gray-sama? Is the story making you uncomfortable? We can change if you…"
"No," Gray cut her off. "It's nothing. My ear itched, that's all."
She accepted his lame excuse with a smile and turned once more towards the statue, giving it back her attention. Gray couldn't understand why he was so on edge. He should enjoy the calmness that surrounded Juvia, a rare but welcome sight. He should be happy to see her so calm and not being all over him. Then, why was he so agitated? He had absolutely no reason to be. Trying to not give too much thought to this detail, he decided to focus on the story.
As he listened how the demoness had overcome the hardships life had thrown at her, he had to admit that the audio guide was a nice addition to the visit. Juvia sighed, contented with the ending. She looked at him, expectedly.
"Now, it's your turn to choose a statue, Gray-sama," Juvia said.
Although he had waited to ask her why she was here, the sparks of happiness in her eyes stopped him. Clearly, she was having a blast and questioning her now would break the mood. It wasn't as if he couldn't ask her after the visit. Even though he was the one who find her first, she would most likely stick by his side. They had time. He could ask later.
He thought about her question, but he didn't really care which statue they went to next. However, he knew that Juvia was asking him because she didn't like choosing everything as she didn't want to impose her desires onto others. Without looking nor thinking, he pointed a general direction behind him. "That one."
Juvia looked past him. Her expression shifted from happy to confuse. She turned to him and asked, "Are you sure, Gray-sama? Doesn't this type of display usually embarrass you?"
Not having the faintest clue what she meant, he turned around to look at the statue he had randomly pointed. He followed her gaze which fell on a statue of four naked people sensually flirting with each other, a scene clearly depicting an orgy-like tale. Instantly, Gray felt his face heated with embarrassment. He felt like an idiot. Of course, he had to point the one explicit statue in the room. Fearing Juvia would extrapolate on his choice, he wanted to set things straight, but she beat him to it.
"Oh, did you mean the other one?" Juvia asked.
This time, the Ice Mage looked at the statue to not make the same mistake twice. She was now pointing to the statue of a knight in prayer. The light reflecting in the ice made his armor shine, something that would catch anyone's eye.
"Yeah," he said.
Juvia clasped her hands, amazed by its poise. "Excellent choice! It makes more sense that Gray-sama would choose a war tale! Juvia apologizes for her silly mistake."
She walked cheerfully and Gray couldn't help but stare at her in disbelief. It was confusing how often Juvia threw him off. She would say the most embarrassing things so naturally, like expressing her love, and would see nothing abnormal with it. Yet, on anything other than her demonstrations of love, she would make sure that he felt at ease. She would be oblivious to his discouragement, but never to his embarrassment. Juvia was…thoughtful. It surprised him that he only noticed now. Was he oblivious himself? No… He knew, but only now did it really hit him.
Seeing he wasn't following her, she gestured him to hurry up by her side, waiting for him to start the audio guide. He sighed through his half-smile. She handed him the earbud and once he put it in his ear, the soothing narrator's voice started telling the story of the statue before them.
Gray knew that he should wonder more about how and why Juvia was there, but she always was nearby, somehow. A year prior, it might have startled him, but her intensity gradually became something normal to him. Sure, her passionate demonstrations of love still triggered his embarrassment, but Juvia was simply an enthusiastic and romantic person. They were her quirks, and Gray, having grown with intense and quirky people in Fairy Tail, adapted somewhat quickly to weirdness. Well, except of course when the embarrassing attention was directed toward him.
But he knew that, at first, he misjudged her; however, not about her character. He knew since day one that she wasn't a bad person and that she simply was unlucky to have affiliated with the wrong crowd. Rather, he misjudged her "feelings" for him. He didn't see them as fake, simply as ephemeral, bound to fade with time.
Not only did Gray consider himself as someone rational and practical, but he knew by experience that attraction was a fleeting thing. Or so he thought. Not to be presumptuous, but Gray was somewhat used to attract girls. He knew that his features and his build made him handsome and appealing. During his school days, he would always find letters from random girls in his locker and he would have to deal with the mess that was Valentine's Day. Although it bothered and embarrass him, he tried to politely decline.
As someone who didn't give too much thought on superficial matters such as his appearance, he figured he was handsome because girls (and sometimes guys) often looked back when he walked back (well, even when he wasn't inadvertently stripping) and would ask him out.
As soon as they got to know him, girls would grow disinterested. Some would say that his personality was too detached, others would complain he was always too busy and never made time for dates or whatever. Eventually, they drifted away, and it didn't really bother or hurt him at all. Anyway, these people always complained about not being prioritized enough, as if they couldn't bare their own company for more than two minutes. Such people were not a good match for him. He liked his alone time and he had bills to pay. Obviously, he would prioritize his work over a date, and anyone who would get mad because of that didn't deserve his time.
So, when Juvia expressed her affection for him at first, he didn't take it seriously. Like all the others, she would grow bored of him or get mad at him or even both. He relied on time to prove him right, thinking how his embarrassment would be short-lived as soon as she'd get to know him.
Weeks and then months passed by and her eagerness hadn't decreased. It had in fact increased. Not that he thought too long about it, but it surprised him that she still expressed her affection. They had spent time together, long enough for her to realize by then that he wasn't as extraordinary as she gave him credit for. Someone as lively and intense as Juvia should naturally gravitate towards passionate people…no? There was no way she could enjoy the silence of his company.
Yet, whenever it was only the two of them, he felt relaxed, at ease. Her usual energetic self was peaceful when they spent time without the others. It was a side of Juvia he hadn't expected and that he enjoyed. Unlike what one might think, Juvia wasn't afraid of the silence. The two of them could just be, side by side, in silence and neither would feel uneasy. Even when he felt down, she wouldn't pry. Somehow, she would know that he'd prefer not to talk about it and simply comfort him with her presence. She could read his mood unlike any other, making him feel like they have known each other for decades rather than only a year and a half. Which was strange for him, since he had trouble as a kid, but also now to allow people to come close to him, not wanting to get attached. Yet, he didn't even feel the need to push her away, although he still did that with new people. Maybe, it was because she never forced him to "move on" from his past, as the others had so often tried. She simply let him live his emotions in peace.
As for her sadness, although it bothered him that he was the cause more often than not, he knew that going to see her was enough to chase her melancholy or anguish. Not to say that Juvia was simple as a person, but he somehow understood her better than other girls or people in general. She wore her heart on a sleeve, or at least that was how it seemed to him. She never hid her emotions, which saved Gray the pain of guessing the reason behind her actions or reactions. He simply understood because Juvia was always true to herself, a quality that was rare nowadays.
Speaking of which, a loud sob caught his attention. Gray then realized he hadn't pay attention at all to the story. Juvia, on the other hand, was crying profusely, babbling through her hiccups. "I-it was sooo *hiccup* b-beautiful! H-he d-did all this for his loved ones even if t-they exiled h-him…"
A tear rolled on her cheek. Instinctively, Gray tapped his pockets, looking for a tissue. Finding one in his coat's inside pocket, he handed it to her.
"Thank you, Gray-sama," she smiled, fondly. She then folded the tissue, pulled her fur-lined collar of her cropped cape and slipped it in her bra. From it, she pulled her own pale-pink tissue on which was embroidered a red heart. She turned slightly and blew her nose.
"What the- I just gave you one. Why use your own?" Gray asked, baffled. Clearly, she had sewn her own but why get it dirty when he gave her one that was disposable? Despite having thought seconds ago about how he knew Juvia, some of her reactions still threw him off.
"Juvia can't soil a gift Gray-sama had made her."
"It's just a tissue."
The Water mage shook her head, looking down and smiling. "It's still a nice gesture and Juvia wants to keep it. Anything she can get, she will treasure."
It was an innocent sentence with no ill undertone, but it felt like a hit in the guts. Did he give back so little that she would even treasure something so insignificant as a tissue he gave her? Has he only ever given her the flower brooch? Or did he really give her nothing else in their year and a half of knowing each other? Although he never understood why she went out of her way to make him gifts for the silliest reasons, such as their "413th day anniversary", he must have shown her his gratitude in some way. Hasn't he? He racked his brain and yet couldn't find anything. Nothing to thank her for her embarrassing Gray/Juvia breads or the scarf or even simply for being a good friend.
Gray frowned. Why did it bother him so much to think that? Never before had he thought that maybe he didn't do enough for a friendship. He was there for his friends in the good times as much as in the bad ones and for him, it seemed enough. Why wasn't it the case with Juvia? What was different? Was he somehow affected by her intensity? No, that wasn't it. Then, why?
Juvia broke the silence that had taken place without him noticing. A dreamy look in her eyes, she was still staring at the statue before them, as she said, "It must be wonderful to be able to create such beauty with one's own magic." She then turned towards him and a soft smile grazed her lips. She added, quietly, "Juvia envies Gray-sama."
His eyes flicked back to the statues. It was true that they were really something impressive. Still, couldn't she see that her powers were just as amazing as that? He could still remember the sparks through the water spiral she casted to match his attacks when they did an Unison Raid, showing how complementary they were.
"Without water, there wouldn't be ice," Gray said, looking at her, unable to avert his eyes this time.
Her lips slightly parted, surprised evident in her widen eyes, she stared at him. Just when he felt his face growing red, he averted his eyes, not fast enough to miss the faint blush that also coloured her cheeks.
"Gray-sama…" she called him, her voice full of emotions.
Juvia took a step forward and looked like she was about to say something. However, she was cut short by a loud crashing sound, followed by screams. It took less than a nano-second for Gray to react. He sprinted towards the commotion instinctively.
When he arrived in the first room, he saw a gaping hole where stood a 40 feet-tall monster. Pale blue, the beast could almost be camouflaged, assorted with the museum's color scheme. However, his skin shone, like it was made of metal like a robot, but his overall appearance rather recalled one of a demon, kind of like the ones in the Grand Magic Games' Pandemonium.
With one of his clawed hands, he hung from the roof, observing inside. He must have punched his way in, judging by the wreckage. A few statues had suffered damage, but luckily no visitor had been harmed. Still, it was no reason to stand idly by. Gray took a combat stand, ready to confront the monster. Suddenly, the Ice Mage felt an oppressive aura, one that sent all his senses into alert mode. The strange thing was that it wasn't coming from the monster.
Juvia marched with deliberate slowness towards the monster. She wasn't even in a combat stance but her whole being exude a sense of danger and threat. Gray could only see her profile. Her eyes were focused on the monster with a glare so cold and yet so deadly.
"Gray-sama," she said, with so much seriousness it startled him.
He didn't have time to answer, as she continued with this deadpanned tone so unlike the lively Juvia he was used to. "Please, look after the civilians while Juvia takes care of this nuisance."
Had it been Natsu or anyone else, he would have strongly rebuffed a plan that left him in the sidelines. However, he didn't feel the need to fight back. Her voice was not subject to appeal. He simply nodded. Even though her animosity wasn't directed towards him, it still stupefied him. Her jealousy fits were nothing compared to that. Although he had met her as an enemy, never before had he seen Juvia so threatening. Gray almost felt safe to be assigned to "civilian" duty. Juvia looked beyond pissed, as if the attack was personal.
The blue-haired girl crouched, ready to jump into action. Invoking her Water Slicers, she shrieked, "How dare you not only destroy these works of art, but interrupt Juvia's date with Gray-sama?!" She jumped high and struck several hits on the monster, who roared resentfully.
Ah. It was personal. Gray sighed, discouraged, and smiled. That monster stood zero chance. As to prove him right, Juvia's attacks made the monster lose its balance. She continued to twirl middle-air, joining one attack to the other in rapid succession, leaving no time for the monster to counterattack. Gray rose an iced wall, creating a corridor for the visitors of farther rooms to exit the museum safely. He still kept an eye behind in case rumbles fell his way, ready to defend the civilians. Seeing an elderly couple, he ran to them and gave them extra assistance. When he finished escorting them outside, he came back to the room where Juvia was still fighting. Suddenly, a voice rose above the combat's commotion.
"Put me down!"
Gray blinked, confused. Was it him or did he hear Levy's voice? An iron poll came crashing into the monster's face. Then, a tall and dark figure came into view, retracting their metal arm before the beast counterattacked. Signaling the visitors to run towards the exit while making sure no rubble fell on them, Gray tried to see who intervened. On their back was a small figure, hanging for their dear life. Someone with blue hair with a dash of orange if his eyes saw correctly.
"Oh my god, Gajeel! Put me down before fighting!" Levy shrieked, as the Iron Dragon Slayer landed another hit.
Juvia, a hand extended towards the monster, having it imprisoned in a water lock, shouted to the newcomer. "Gajeel-kun! Don't butt in, this monster is Juvia's! He ruined her date!"
From the ground, where he landed to let the petite bluenette of his back, Gajeel loudly replied, "Sucks to suck! You didn't take care of it fast enough!" He promptly jumped back into the action, to Juvia's obvious displeasure, while Levy scolded the Iron Dragon Slayer for being rash.
What on Earthland is going on?
AN: And so begins the true chaos (in next chapter) ;) They are finally the four of them together (the long awaited moment, we have all been looking forward, hehe~) We are going back to the Humor part of this story :3 Expect more BROTP moments, bakaness and schemes~
Once again, thank you for reading, following, fave-ing and reviewing :D I hope it made you smile, laugh or fangirl^^
See you soon? (Might be slow but I'm finishing this, don't worry:))