This oneshot is for Gruvia Week 2021 Day 3: Discovery!

It takes place between the Alvarez arc and the start of the hundred years quest. I hope you all like it! ^^

Thanks for proofreading CJ!

It was a regular, rowdy afternoon in the Fairy Tail guildhall. A lot of wizards had come home from multiple-day jobs today and were ready to celebrate the recently earned money by spending it on booze at their own bar. Everyone was chatting and drinking, forgetting all about the physical stress they had been under while working requests the whole week.

''Thanks, Mira,'' Gray said as he took the pull of beer from the bartender and took a sip. He had worked a request with Loke, in his human form, the last five days and was just starting to recover. He felt at ease being back at the guild. Everyone seemed to have picked up their normal lives after the short-lasting war with Alvarez and he had no complaints about the amount of work that was now available.

A loud bang of one of the front doors opening went like a shock through the guild. A group of flamboyantly dressed men had entered the guildhall and everyone had turned their head towards the sudden visitors. The atmosphere suddenly felt tense. It was obvious to everyone in the room. The men were wizards.

''Yo Makarov!'' the man walking in front yelled, ''we've come here to talk!''

''Who are those clowns?'' Gray asked, half-laughing, as he took another good chug from his beer. He was amused and felt almost sorry for the people who were likely to be thrown out by Gramps in no time. The only people Fairy Tail welcomed, were people who were in need of help or wanted to become a member. Makarov wasn't fond of other random wizards barging in.

''You've got to be kidding me.'' He heard someone quietly say. He turned around and was surprised to see Lucy with wide-open eyes. Her face looked pale and her bottom lip had started to tremble.

''Are you okay?'' Gray carefully asked, shocked by his friend's behaviour.

''He looks way older, but there is no mistaken,'' she said with a quiver in her voice.

Cana had realised now too and narrowed her eyes in disgust. ''Ewl, it's that asshole of a Bora.''

Gray gave her a puzzled look. ''Who?''

''He was a member of the now-disbanded Titan Nose guild.'' Lucy managed to bring out, ''He...kidnapped me the day Natsu took me to Fairy Tail for the first time.''

Gray was surprised. He heard stories about Natsu taking down a fire wizard that ran a slave-trading business that had targeted Lucy, but never thought about it again.

''That's him?''

''Ah yes, he's Juvia's ex too, ain't he?'' Cana said before chugging down her fifth pull of beer.

''Cana! That was supposed to be confidential!'' Lucy let out. She looked back at Gray, but instantly realised it was too late.

''Juvia's what?'' he let out so low it almost came out as a growl. His eyes shot to his right side and caught a glimpse of the blue-haired mage at the very end of the bar. Despite her almost snow-like skin, she was visibly pale and unable to move out of fear.

An unfamiliar, raging emotion seemed to slowly take control of his body. He put down his beer with such force, the entire bar shook along. With slow, but firm steps, he walked towards the end of the bar.

''Did he hurt you?'' His voice resonated throughout her entire being.

Juvia looked up from her emotional trance. She was shocked to see Gray in front of her. Not the fact that he stood there so suddenly, but the aura he emitted. It was dark and brimming with ethernano. When her eyes met his, she was at a loss for words. His right eye was fading into a glowing purple shade and the skin on the right side of his body was turned grey and would soon be black. A shiver traveled down her spine. She knew what was going on with him, but not why.

''Darling, you don't have-''

''Did he?!'' He repeated his question, loud enough to make the unwanted visitors and guild members alike turn their heads towards them.

She fell silent, but nodded to confirm his suspicions.

''If it isn't the gloomy girl,'' Bora said as he walked over, ''never thought you would find a place you were wanted.''

The entire guild held its breath as they watched Bora approach Juvia, completely unaware of the ticking timebomb in the form of a furious Gray next to her. Like a cocky mouse jumping into a pit of venomous snakes.

Gray turned around, positioning himself between Bora and Juvia. ''Don't you dare come any closer,'' he warned him.

Bora raised a brow. ''And you are?''

''Her other half.''

The fire mage laughed mockingly. ''You're wasting your time on such a miserable piece of-''

He didn't get to finish his sentence, as Gray's fist sent him flying. The spectators winched at the sound of what seemed to be Bora's jaw breaking.

He stood up with shaking knees trying to process what had just happened. He readied himself to fight back, but he shut down when he looked up.

Gray was approaching him, radiating a fury so fiercely, it made Bora quiver in fear.

''Y-you're a monster!'' he screamed so high-pitched it make Gray grin with satisfaction.

He wavered his right hand out, which had now turned completely black. His tattoos contrasting in white. His face was partly covered in dark matter as well, the only thing standing out, was his glowing eye.

''Wrong,'' he darkly said, ''I'm your worst nightmare.''

Just as he was about to attack again, he felt a warm hand on his shoulder and looked to his side. ''Please stop,'' Juvia begged of him.

''He hurt you,'' Gray said, ''I can't let him get away with that.''

''That's why I want you to stop,'' she said and turned to Bora, ''I want to finish this myself.''

The murderous look on her face pierced his soul. ''I-I'm sorry Juvia, I didn't mean to-''

''Too late,'' she coldly said and summoned two blades of water which sliced up his clothing. Crying and naked, he fled the guild as hard as he could, his followers awkwardly followed.

The entire guild burst out in laughter.

''He must have peed his pants,'' Cana laughed out so loud she had to catch her breath.

Juvia raised herself up on her toes to give Gray a peck on the cheek. The coal-like matter on his skin immediately retracted where her lips had made contact. He was pulled back to full consciousness and looked down at her at his side.

''Thank you,'' she said, her gaze filled with affection. The darkness that had left his face now made place for a bright-red blush.

''Free round of beer for the strongest couple!'' Mira yelled.

''Hey!'' Gray tried to drown out the cheering guild, ''we're not-''

He looked at Juvia's cheerfulness and realised he had reacted out of habit again. This wasn't him anymore. The new him was proud to be with her. In what way, he'd figure out one day.

He draped his arm around her shoulder and let her head rest against his chest.

''Anything for you.''