Oneshot for Gruvia day 2020! Enjoy! ^^
It was a silent winter evening in the city of Magnolia. The first snow of the year had fallen yesterday and left the streets littered with footsteps and frosted windows.
Gray sighed. He couldn't even enjoy the amazing view he had over the city from the balustrade he was leaning over. Was it too late to just walk away? Maybe he should have never asked her to come here.
''Hey,'' He heard a soft voice say behind him. Gray turned around, facing the friend he trusted the most; Erza.
''Hey,'' he replied.
''So,'' she said as she leaned over the balustrade as well, ''what did you want to talk about?''
He grinned. ''I had hoped the location would give it away immediately.''
''You're right,'' Erza said, ''but why is it that you ask the most hopeless romantic for relationship advice?''
''Would you consider Lucy or Mira a better option?'' He snickered. ''Or worse; Cana.''
''They're not too good at taking steps towards their interests either, hm?'' Erza smiled. ''I'm very proud of how far you've progressed with expressing your feelings since the last time we stood here, about two years ago.''
He averted his eyes, pretending to admire the city lights. ''You think so?''
''I saw you hugging her back in front of everyone, that's not the Gray I knew back then.''
''I didn't know I was capable of it either, I just finally felt ready for it,'' he said, scratching the back of his head.
''I assume you asked me to come here to ask about what next step to take?''
''I'm hopeless,'' he grumbled, ''if it took me this long to even show affection, then how long will it take before I dare to ask her on a date?!''
''Probably sooner than you think,'' she said in a voice that sounded like it was fading, as if she walked away.
He turned his head. ''How do you-''
She was gone. Where she had stood, the empty streets stared back at him. From the stairs that led up to the balcony, he saw someone with the all too familiar strands of blue hair coming from under her winter hat.
''You can't be serious,'' he groaned.
From the opposite stairs, Erza gave him a double thumbs up. You got this.
''Good evening'', Juvia said, carrying two mugs of hot chocolate,''S-so I guess this is our first date?''
How many times had he denied they were on a date when Juvia talked about it if they carried out a quest together?
Gray was handed one of the mugs and gently took it from her. Her hands were slightly trembling. ''I-I guess it is.''
An awkward silence filled the space between them.
''The last time we stood on this balcony was the day the war broke out..'' Gray finally said.
Juvia pretended to drink from the steaming hot mug. ''I'll never forget that day,'' she softly said.
''I promised I would give my answer after the war,'' he said as tightened the grip on his mug, ''but it has been a year and I can imagine the answer you got at Lucy's party wasn't much, I'm sorry''
''T'there's no need, my love.'' Juvia smiled. ''I thought you knew I'm okay with the way things between us are now.''
''But I'm not,'' he said sternly, placing his mug on the balustrade. ''I'm only accepting your love, not returning it,'' he said as he leaned closer to her.
''It's okay,'' Juvia said almost out of breath, knowing that staring into his impossible dark eyes would make her sound less convincing.
''No, you deserve more,'' he said before closing the last inches between them.
Before Juvia could even progress what was happening, she could herself melt against his lips. Was this really happening?
He pulled back, his cheekbones redder than she had ever seen before.
''This is my answer,'' he said, his voice sounding faintly hoarse, ''will you accept it?''
She blinked a few times, barely realising this was reality. A tear escaped the corner of her eyes, followed by many more.
''Of course,'' she laughed through her tears and pulled him back closer by his collar.
He smiled against her lips when she kissed him back.
Maybe giving an answer wasn't so hard after all.
