Gruvia Week 2020
Day 1: Home
Modern Neighbors AU
Pairing: Gray Fullbuster, Juvia Lockser
Series: Fairy Tail
Rating: M for sensitive language and content
Day 1 FEELS LIKE HOME
If someone told Juvia how hard it was to become an adult, she would have refused to grow up. Not only was it a struggle to juggle three jobs to make both ends meet, now she had to deal with all the muscle cramps and other pains which came with age. It didn't help at all that she lived in the 4th floor of an old building with a broken elevator.
Juvia climbed her last flight of stair. Her heartbeat was tripling and her knees were almost giving out. She was only twenty-five but her body felt like she was fifty.
"Just a few more." She motivated herself, already out of breath from her last three floors.
The bluenette watched too much Asian drama. That was the only thing that could explain why she was hitting the back of her shoulder with a fisted hand. But she couldn't afford meds so she put her trust on the hitting. Hey, it worked for those poor female leads.
When she stepped on the landing, Juvia heaved out a long sigh, both out of exhaustion and frustration. It has been a year and she was no where near being published. Her first book, one which she initially named '413 Days', had been in the publishing limbo for so long. She talked to her publisher and was told that her book still lacked that certain 'umph' as that old geezer called it. Of course, he meant 'umphing' in the bed. He'd been pestering her about adding bed scenes. Why did the book need bed scenes? What did she even know about bed scenes?
The bluenette sighed yet again before she willed her tired body to go on. It was hopeless.
Juvia heard a sound of a woman struggle behind her. When she turned around, the bluenette couldn't see anyone behind three brown paper bags full of groceries and a giant French bread. The face of the holder could hardly be seen. Only the long black hair peeking every now and then made Juvia recognize the person behind.
"Oh, Ultear?"
The woman peered through her French bread to acknowledge Juvia.
"Oh! Hi, Juvia!" Ultear said between a baguette and a sneaky pack of spaghetti noodles.
"Let me help you." Juvia offered as she attempted to take some of the bags.
"No, it's alright. I only have a few more steps." Ultear braved the three remaining steps before she hopped on the landing. "See?"
Juvia chuckled along with Ultear. She was fond of her neighbor's older sister. Ultear was funny and playful. They've been in contact during the last year and became actual friends. They always hanged out whenever the older woman was in the city. It was nice for Juvia to have a friend but Ultear lived all the way to Hargeon Town. Unfortunately, she hasn't develop any friendship with Ultear's younger brother and Juvia's neighbor.
"Do you really not need my help?" Juvia volunteered again but Ultear dismissed her easily.
"Don't worry about it." said Ultear and asked Juvia to just walk with her.
Juvia's room wasn't too far from the stairs. Ultear's destination, Gray's apartment, was next to Juvia's. The friends walked together as they exchanged pleasantries and random stories. Juvia freely talked and laughed along. She was comfortable around an older friend.
The two bid their 'see you laters' when they reached their respective doors. Ultear reminded Juvia to drop by later at Gray's apartment; the young barista promised she would. When faced with a locked door, Ultear reconsidered her decision turning down Juvia's help.
"Actually, Juvia..."
Juvia stopped mid-opening her own door to turn to Ultear.
"I may need your help, after all."
Ultear requested Juvia to retrieve the keys for her. Juvia complied. The bluenette fished the key out of Ultear's pant pocket, inserted the one with the cute snowflake chain into the knob and opened the door.
"Thank you, sweetie."
Juvia stayed at the door with no intention to go inside her neighbor's apartment. Ultear, however, had something different in mind.
"If you aren't too tired you can stay." invited Ultear as she placed the groceries on the kitchen island with a low thud. She sighed a relief before she turned to Juvia who was waiting at the entrance. "Of course, it's not obligatory." The beautiful raven-haired woman winked.
Juvia considered the offer. She thought long about it. There was nothing else to do back at her apartment. Also, it would be nice to talk and keep someone's company other than her bitchy customers. Oh, those self-entitled pricks.
"Won't Gray get mad having a stranger inside his apartment?" asked Juvia as she crossed the threshold and walked deeper into the apartment. She only noticed now that Gray's apartment was bigger than hers.
"You're not a stranger." corrected Ultear as she put away the groceries she brought in, leaving a few on the counter island. "Well, at least for me." She stopped for a second to address Juvia. "You guys haven't forged a friendship yet?"
Juvia popped the orange slice candy provided by Ultear into her mouth.
"Mnno." She chewed hard before she swallowed. "Wow, this is really chewy."
In her defense, Gray seldom came home at his apartment and when he did he was rather occupied. By someone else.
"Anyway," Juvia changed the subject. "what's with all these groceries?" The younger between the two continued munching on the orange slice.
"I'm going to throw Gray a little party. But just us."
"Oh, right!" Juvia jumped out of the tall chair. "Today's his birthday."
"Yes. Also, this day last year was the first time you stormed here to tell Gray off."
Juvia and Ultear looked at each other and then a big belly laugh spilled out of Ultear's mouth as she remembered the real reason why Juvia stormed over her brother's apartment with her eyebrows meeting in the middle.
"Does he… does he still ruin your goodnight sleep with… with all his thumping?" asked Ultear between pants.
"Thumping, purring, all the 'choke me daddy' noises. Yes."
In the past year that they were neighbors, Juvia often prayed that Gray travelled abroad for his job. Those are the only nights that she didn't have to deal with all the weird noises coming from the other side of her wall.
Ultear was now bending over, hitting the counter as she guffawed. The younger between the two tried to hold her glare. Her concerns were genuine; she needed her sleep! In the end, she couldn't help but laugh along.
"Choke me daddy?" When her laughter died down, Ultear had to wipe the tears at the corner of her eyes. "Man, that brother of mine has some weird taste."
Juvia couldn't agree more. One time, she saw Gray and one of his ladies at the stairs. The lady friend was wearing some kind of a uniform Juvia belatedly realized was a maid costume. When Juvia told Ultear that, the woman almost peed her pants.
"I better start this stove or else we're going to eat air for that weirdo's birthday."
When Juvia attempted to help at the stove, Ultear swatted her hand away.
"You're a guest here so sit."
Ultear tore open the pack of spaghetti noodles and put the contents inside the boiling water she just prepared.
"What are you making?" pried Juvia, playing with the rest of the ingredients Ultear set aside.
"His favorite – spaghetti with a lot of hotdog cutlets."
There was a twinkle of pride in Ultear's dark eyes she shared with her brother. Also, there was affection hiding behind that pride and something else.
Ultear walked over to the counter and sat opposite Juvia. She held the kitchen knife, took out pieces of hotdog and meticulously arranged them on the cutting board.
"When we were kids, our mother would make us spaghetti on our birthday." shared Ultear as she cut the hotdogs into smaller and bite-sized pieces.
That's when Juvia recognized the sparkle; Ultear was reminiscing a good memory.
"We lost her five years ago." Her dark brown eyes softened and the sparkle was dimmed by wistfulness. "So, I promised myself I'll continue that tradition, for Gray." Ultear was finished with the hotdog and moved on to the garlic, onions, mushrooms and lastly, pineapples.
Juvia watched Ultear maneuver the kitchen like a pro. Quickly, Gray's two-bedroom apartment was filled by the noise and smell of good cooking. Juvia let the cook concoct the red sauce which sizzled when Ultear poured the ingredients she cut earlier into the saucepan. The smell made Juvia's stomach grumbled. That little embarrassing sound earned a hearty chuckle from the cook.
"Here," Ultear pushed a plate of baked onion and garlic bread in front of Juvia. "but don't spoil yourself for my spaghetti, alright? I was told it tastes like heaven."
Juvia wanted to decline but the aroma coming from the onion bread was so tempting that even she could not refuse. She tore a part, swallowed and there was no stopping from there.
The two women in the kitchen did not hear the door open. They were oblivious of the guy who just entered the apartment and dropped his luggage on the floor. He probably smelled the familiar aroma of his sister's cooking so he decided to call her out.
"Sis, are you here?" His voice travelled to the kitchen.
Juvia recognized that voice. She didn't hear it often but she did recognize the owner of that voice. Before any of them could answer, the owner of that voice and the apartment materialized at the kitchen archway.
"I knew you were here. Oh."
Gray saw his sister near the stove first, as expected. Then, he noticed the vibrant blue hair-color of a guest sitting on one of the bar stools around the kitchen island.
"You two know each other?" Ultear was amused at how this one will play out.
"Of course." Answered Gray like it was obvious. He walked into his kitchen; cautiously at first as if he was the stranger among the three of them. When he realized he was in his own home, the uneasiness in his face began to disappear. "Juvia, right?" confirmed Gray as he took the barstool next to Juvia.
"Yes." answered Juvia sheepishly.
Ultear let the two figure it out as she fell in the background, just observing his brother and his cute little neighbor. The sauce ladle rested on her shoulder as she watched Gray and Juvia not interact.
The two seemed to have lost their voices. Juvia shyly bit a piece of bread and Gray nonchalantly sipped on his glass of orange juice. Ultear snickered inwardly. What kind of playboy didn't make a move on this cute neighbor?
Juvia, suddenly remembering her manners, greeted Gray a happy birthday. To which the owner of the house answered a quick thanks. Juvia's heart almost jumped out of her chest when Gray flashed her his devilishly sexy smirk. One that for sure brought all those women at the other side of Juvia's wall. So, in order not to embarrass herself by giving herself a mini heart attack, she quickly looked away from him.
"I should be helping, Ultear." Juvia slid down the stool in an attempt to distance herself from Gray.
"No, stay where you are. I'm almost finished." Ultear suddenly remembered the spaghetti sauce she was trying to make and tended to it.
Before Juvia could leave the counter, she felt Gray's hand grabbed her arm. He pulled her back to the kitchen island.
"You heard Sis." said Gray.
Gray had a good grip on her arm so Juvia had no choice but to sit back on the stool. He looked at her in the eyes, his mouth twisted in an unreadable half smile and in a low voice he warned Juvia.
"I won't have you anywhere near my spaghetti." His brows flicked in a teasing dance. Then, he threw his head back to let out a boy laugh. "So just sit there and relax, neighbor."
Gray's friendly and a little bit sexy smile erased Juvia's uneasiness. But that didn't stop Juvia to have what almost felt like a mini heart attack.
The three gathered around the island counter: two raven-haired siblings and one blue-haired Juvia. They sang Gray an off-key birthday song and let the birthday boy blow the candle on the cake his sister ordered. The older Fullbuster may be very good in cooking but you couldn't trust her anywhere a baking bowl.
Ultear served the spaghetti peppered with little chunks of hotdog – just the way Gray liked it. The younger Fullbuster wasted no time and eagerly spun the fork on his plateful of Ultear's famous spaghetti. Juvia couldn't quite figure out the sound coming from Gray but the writer in her said what she was hearing and witnessing was what they called a 'foodgasm'. It was cute to watch.
"Sis," Gray swallowed first before he continued what he was to say. "this spaghetti is even better than last year." He took another forkful of the red pasta and chomped while still making the 'mmm' sound. "I wonder why you're still single."
Good thing he had already swallowed his spaghetti before Ultear hit him on the top of his head with a French bread. Apparently, the older sibling didn't want to talk about her lack of love life.
Contrary to her younger brother's.
Ultear planted both elbows on the counter, her head rested on her open palms, patiently waiting for Juvia to give her two cents about her spaghetti. The bluenette only noticed then when Ultear was expectantly staring at her.
"Oh, right." She enjoyed watching Gray indulgently dive in that she forgot to taste hers.
Juvia took a forkful and the moment the red sauce touched her tongue, the bluenette was rendered speechless. There was an explosion of flavors in her mouth; she could taste the tomato base, the creamy milk, the balanced taste of sweet and tart out of the pineapple and the broth-y taste of the mushroom. Juvia couldn't explain how well the different flavors worked together but rather than oratory satisfaction, to her the meal brought out a feeling.
"It tastes like…" She struggled to find the right word.
"Home?"
Juvia stared at Gray with a look that bore through his soul. She wondered if the guy was mocking her. He wasn't.
But he was right. When Juvia thought about it, the taste of Ultear's red pasta brought back memories. Suddenly, she was back in Oaktown, at her grandfather's porch on a lazy afternoon. She was ten once again.
"Yeah. Home."
Juvia shared the genuine smile that lingered on Gray's lips. When she looked into his eyes, Juvia felt like she just saw a glimpse of who Gray was other than being her wall-banging neighbor. She was liking who she was seeing behind those mischievous brown eyes, just like Ultear's.
The three spent the night finding out things about each other. Juvia learned that Gray's apartment was used to be shared with Ultear. But the older sibling found a job at another city so she had to move out. Juvia couldn't help but think that the reason Gray always brought women in his apartment was because he was lonely. The Fullbuster siblings seemed really close; obvious with the way they teased each other just like how siblings did. Juvia wondered how that felt like.
When they finished eating, Ultear didn't have to tell her brother to do the dishes. It had become Gray's role to clean up after his sister. Gray made sure everyone was finished before he cleared out the table and put the dishes in the sink. Even when their mother was still alive, the Fullbuster siblings had always helped in the house chores: Ultear on the cooking and Gray on the washing.
Ultear walked over where Juvia assumed to be her old room as she stretched her weary muscles on the way. She said her body was aching from all the cooking.
"You kids keep bonding, alright!" said Ultear before she disappeared behind her bedroom door.
Secretly, she was rooting for her brother to just make a move on Juvia already. Ultear would really like to have a little sister; someone nice, friendly and cute like the aspiring writer sitting at her brother's counter. She even threw that cute aspiring writer the good-luck hand gesture, throwing her fist to cheer her on.
Juvia's eyes wandered over the other raven-haired in the room. He was at the sink, the spray nozzle in one hand and the other on the mess of plates, bowls and other kitchenware. Her gaze trailed from the stretch and pull of his black shirt across his wide shoulders and arms. He seemed athletic, Juvia noted.
Juvia slid down the bar stool and walked over where the sink was. She stood next to Gray, close enough that their shoulders and upper arms brushed.
"Let me put these in here." Juvia took the cleaned plates into the dishwasher.
Gray grabbed it away from her.
"Hey, you're guest. You shouldn't be washing the dishes."
Now, they were in this weird tug-of-war with the plate. Gray, as a gentleman, let the lady win.
"It's the least I can do for inviting myself into your apartment." reasoned Juvia. "And your birthday."
"I don't mind." replied Gray.
Juvia seemed to understand now how those women ended up in Gray's apartment. His confident smile alone could make any woman fall on his feet. The bluenette was sure, no one ever said no to that gorgeous tilt of his mouth.
Oh his mouth.
Once, Juvia saw Gray say goodbye to one of his lady friends. The two had the audacity to kiss goodbye right in front of Gray's door which was just inches away from Juvia's. But she had to admit, her wall-banging neighbor could kiss. She felt her own knees weaken at just the sight of him kissing.
Juvia could already feel the heat rush up her face and her now reddened ears. She looked away from his mouth which she had no business ogling. She focused on putting away the plates and bowls.
"This may sound so insensitive of me but how long have you've been staying in this building?" Gray continued the conversation.
"More than a year now." replied Juvia.
"Have you adjusted?"
Thanks to Gray, they were having a casual conversation over the sink. Juvia felt her blood rush back to regular circulation.
"I guess you can say that."
Juvia giggled. She wasn't sure herself if she had adjusted to the city life. Just earlier, he swore off the whole city of Magnolia.
"You will." comforted Gray. He then started on the dirty saucepan and other kitchen utensils. Man, his sister really liked to use everything in his kitchen.
"How did you cope up?" asked Juvia.
Gray paused from soaping the large saucepan and thought about it.
"I guess Ultear made it easier." answered Gray before he returned to rinsing the inside of the kitchenware.
The scene made Juvia feel butterflies in her stomach. They looked so domesticated helping each other out in the kitchen. And when a little splash made Gray lift his shirt a little, exposing a few inches of skin, Juvia's stomach took a tumble.
She should really change the subject and fast.
"Good for you then. I don't have any siblings to do that for me." She gasped at the contact of droplets of water into her face. "Hey!" Juvia giggly complained at the man who just splashed her a little water. "You're getting me wet."
Nice choice of words.
As soon as she said those words, Juvia regretted it. She only realized the innuendo when Gray's eyes strayed from her eyes to her lips and then somewhere south. Juvia caught the mischief in Gray's dark brown eyes. She wasn't sure if they were teasing her or maybe, tempting her.
"This is the last one." announced Gray. But instead of handing the rinsed spatula to Juvia, he placed it on the dishwasher himself.
Gray moved behind Juvia and she swore the hairs on her neck stood. When Gray finally dropped the utensil in the dishwasher, he placed his open palms against the sink, cornering Juvia.
"Don't look so sad." He whispered into her ear and Juvia felt his lips brush her ear.
Juvia turned around to face him. Not her wisest idea.
"You can always come here when you're lonely." His voice was low and his half smile wasn't friendly anymore, it was hypnotic.
Gray was closing in, so close that the tip of his nose touched hers. Juvia couldn't think straight. An inner voice told her to stop, push him and run as far as she could. But her body had a mind of its own. Instead of telling him no, her lips parted, anticipating his kiss.
Juvia wasn't sure if she should be thankful for the interrupter calling Gray's phone. The ringing hammered her senses back to her.
"You should really answer that."
"I don't think so."
When Juvia opened her mouth to tell him off, Gray kissed her – nice, long and slow. His kiss made her forget everything: that she was in his kitchen; that his sister was in one of the bedrooms in the apartment and could walk in on them any time. Most of all, she forgot about her town-girl innocence. Juvia rose to the balls of her feet and pressed her body against Gray's. A soft growl from Gray made it into her mouth, encouraging her and Juvia answered that encouragement with a slide of her hands from his chest, his shoulders until they worked their way up to his raven-hair. His hair felt good between Juvia's fingers. She didn't know what came to her but Juvia gave Gray's hair a little tug and Gray's slow and long kiss became more urgent and aggressive.
Juvia rushed back to her apartment. She was thankful Ultear slept like a log. Otherwise, the older Fullbuster could have walked in on Juvia tugging on Gray's hair as she let Ultear's brother explore her mouth. That would be traumatic for both Juvia and Ultear. Juvia would never live it down.
Juvia leaned against her door; her back was against the hard wood. Her mind wandered back to the hot steamy kiss she just had at her neighbor's kitchen. She touched her swollen lips; the warmth of Gray's kiss lingered on her lips. It made her want another taste of the young Fullbuster. She threw a wistful look at her door. She couldn't just walk over Gray's and demand another kiss. Ultear could be awake by now. All she could do was walk into her bedroom, turn on her laptop and open the word file of her book's manuscript. Juvia bit her lower lip as she finished reading the scene she edited into her manuscript. She understood now what her editor wanted.
That old geezer.
Satisfied with her new draft, Juvia stood from her seat. She stretched a little before her eyes wandered over the wall and thought about the man at the other side of it. She placed her fingers to her lips again. They were still warm. She bit her lower lip as the butterflies fluttered in stomach.
Juvia had been wailing about her misfortune. But now, her life in the city was starting to become interesting.
Writer's Corner: Whaddup my loves! I hope you guys are safe and healthy during this challenging times. Keep your selves healthy and your heart fluttering for this Gruvia entry to this year's Gruvia Week over at tumblr.
This is somehow a continuation of my Gruvia Week 2016 Day 5: Sounds entry ( s/11287983/13/bits-pieces). After I finish She's In Your Court, I will be jumping into this Neighbor AU we got going on because that is some fire between photographer Gray and aspiring writer Juvia. Also, I'm a sucker for modern neighbor AU.
Drop me some lovin'. Also, keep an eye on the succeeding entries. #GruviaForever