Short 2

POV: Gray, 1st person

When Lyon tries to strut away with Juvia the evening before the start of the Grand Magic Games, Gray gets a little angrier than he should have been.

The blooming capital Crocus lived up to its name. Everywhere I turned, flowers bloomed. They were on the walls of buildings, lining the streets, decorating lights, and being sold by vendors on every street corner. The city was an explosion of colors and flowery scents. I wondered how overpowering the sensations would be for someone like a dragon slayer, although neither Wendy nor the flame brain seemed bothered by it when we arrived.

I wandered the streets slowly, still sore from unleashing my second origin. I certainly felt the increase of magic power, but the physical toll was crazy. Hopefully we'll all recover from it before the games get into full swing.

After wandering aimlessly by myself for a couple hours, I heard a familiar voice call out to me.

"Gray-sama!"

I turned, already knowing who it was. There was only one girl in the world who called me Gray-sama. I had to blink a couple times when I saw her. She'd gone and changed her style again, with a new wardrobe and her hair falling loose down her back. Even I could admit it looked good.

"Juvia," I greeted her. "What are you doing here?"

"It's not just Juvia." She explained with a smile. "Everyone in the guild came to cheer you on."

Everyone in the guild? Was no one going to be out doing jobs while this was going on? "Jeez." I said. "Those guys have too much free time…"

Juvia looked down shyly and started to fidget. "Umm…" She started with a slight blush. I tensed up, recognizing the signs from dozens of past experiences. "Would you like to have dinner together?"

Sure enough, she was asking me out on a date. Out of sheer habit, I started thinking up some excuse as to why I can't.

Just say you promised to meet up with the others at the hotel soon.

There's hours to go before we need to meet up, and Juvia probably knows it.

Then just say you're not hungry.

But I am hungry.

Well then, jackass, just tell her you don't want to.

But I do want to!

The last thought brought me up short, and my earlier resolution came to mind. I do want to spend time with her. I want to give her a chance. Having a casual dinner with her was a good place to start.

"Now that you mention it, I am hungry." I started, trying to sound as nonchalant about it as possible.

Before Juvia could express any excitement, a new voice jumped in the conversation. "In that case, I know a good restaurant in town."

"Lyon!" I growled in annoyance.

Completely ignoring me, Lyon put his arm around Juvia and started to walk away. "It's combined with the aquarium. A really fashionable restaurant." He was saying.

"Uh… wait… what is this?" Juvia stuttered in utter confusion.

White-hot anger flared in my blood. That asshole! What makes him think he can take Juvia anywhere? "Hey!" I seethed. "What makes you think you can walk off with one of my guildmates!?"

Lyon stopped walking. "I hear you're going to be in the Grand Magic Games, Gray." He smirked back at me. "My guild, Lamia Scale, is going to win, though."

As if. "I hear you guys come in second every year." I taunted.

"And you guys are in last place every year." He shot back in challenge. "Until last year, we've always been in second place, but that was without Jura-san or me participating. You understand what I'm getting at, don't you?"

"Are you forgetting?" I retorted angrily. "We got this monster named Erza on our side!"

Lyon took a step back and announced "Let's make a wager. When Lamia Scale achieves victory. Juvia will join our guild!"

"What the hell is that?!" I yelled. My fists itched to plant themselves in Lyon's face for even suggesting something so stupid, but I forced myself to stay calm. "And if we win?" I managed to ask.

"I'll return Juvia to your guild." He answered confidently.

My hands twitched. I gritted my teeth. "She's ours to begin with!" I shouted.

"This is a gentlemen's agreement. Don't forget it, Gray."

"Gimme a break! That's no kind of bet!" I took a step forward, but managed to stop myself somehow from going further.

I'm gonna punch him! I'll punch him in the face! What kind of despicable guy claims to be in love with a girl then turns around and treats her like she's a prize to be won? Juvia isn't a goddamn prize! I'll teach him a lesson for treating my girl like an object!

I nearly did, but Lyon's next words brought me up short. "Are you afraid of losing?"

My competitive spirit perked its head, drawing my anger up short. "What's that?"

It might have gotten ugly after that, but Juvia managed to diffuse the tension by jumping in front of me with flailing arms and exclaiming "Gray-sama!" She spluttered. "Do you want Juvia?! Or Lyon-sama?! Please make up your mind!"

The familiarity of her antics managed to calm me down. "You're not following the conversation, are you?" I said, a little exasperated but also fondly.

We did end up going to dinner. Unfortunately, Lyon wouldn't leave us alone, so it turned into a rather uncomfortable experience where Lyon kept trying to flirt with Juvia while Juvia went back and forth between trying to ignore his advances and misinterpreting my annoyance with him as some sort of possible bromance or whatever.

My girl. The thought had come to me unbidden in my anger, but now that it was there I couldn't get rid of it. Was I really that possessive of Juvia? Am I just used to her giving all her attention to me, or is there something more behind that? Did it make me just as bad as Lyon for thinking it? There's a difference, though, because I know damn well that Juvia thinks of herself as my girl. Or at the very least she wants to.

Am I… jealous? If I am… then why?