Haloha, everyone! Hope you're having a good day! I'll be uploading two chapters here today: this chapter and the next main chapter. This one's for the GruVia fans out there. It is completely optional though to read this chapter if you're just interested in the main storyline. In that case, you can skip to the next one.
Anyhow, enjoy reading!
Chapter 39.5-GRUVIA: Enough waiting.
During Chapter 39...
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"Wendy."
"What is it, Gray?"
"Do you still… remember that bet I made with you a while ago?" he asked, faintly blushing.
"The bet…?" Wendy stroked her chin for a moment, pondering his words. It then clicked in her mind. "Oh! You mean…?" The words from that day flashed through her mind.
"If he returns your feelings, I will… confess my feelings to Juvia, no hesitation!"
In a light-hearted manner, Gray made a bet to Wendy that he'd confess his feelings to Juvia if Natsu (he didn't know who it was at the time) returned her feelings. He only did it to cheer up Wendy because she was so down in the dumps. But now that Natsu and Wendy are dating…
"I was surprised… shocked even, when I realized it was Natsu you were talking about." Gray ran his hand through the water beside him. "I'm even more shocked he had the guts to confess his feelings to you."
I was surprised, too… Wendy smiled in response. She vividly remembered how her heart tingled at his confession. Being straightforward is the Natsu way, after all.
"But… I'm truly happy for both of you." He patted her head softly. "If there's anyone who can tame that flame-brain, it's you. It takes a dragon to take down a dragon."
"Gray…" Wendy blushed. Oh, she was going to tame him very soon…
"… and I believe it's time for me to uphold my end of the bet." He stood up, his voice full of determination.
"Wow…" her eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure about this, Gray?"
"Yeah." He pumped his fist to his chest. "No better opportunity than now."
"I see." Wendy smiled sweetly and raised her fist for a fist-bump. "Good luck!"
He grinned, returning her fist-bump. I'll need that.
Soon, everyone else finished changing and entered the hot springs area.
"Hey, you're already here." A commanding voice called out. "I was beginning to think you'd run away."
"Erza…" Gray turned to them and saw Erza and Juvia approaching them. Like Wendy, they were wearing towels wrapped around their chests, which reached down to their thighs. Of course, his gaze was focused on Juvia.
"Where's Natsu?" Erza asked.
"Hmmm?" Gray raised an eyebrow. "He's right… here…?" He looked around himself and noticed Natsu already swimming away in the distance. He's already jumping in…?
"Oh, he must be quite eager." Erza smiled sweetly. "We should join in, too."
"Gray, darling!" Juvia happily skipped to him. "Let's bath together!"
"S-Sure…" Gray blushed slightly as she took his arm in hers. He hoped she wouldn't try anything that'd shock his heart. He'd freeze her if she tried anything…
They all slowly stepped into the hot springs, immediately feeling its rejuvenating effects as the groundwater reached up to their thighs.
Erza and Jellal settled in a corner somewhere. Wendy began searching for Natsu using her dragon senses. Juvia dragged Gray along so they would be alone from the others.
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"Come on, darling!"
"I'm right with you, Juvia." Gray smiled wryly. He trudged through the water, feeling a warm and refreshing sensation enveloping his legs.
"Hahaha!" Juvia giggled sweetly as she splashed the water around her, drenching herself in it.
"This isn't the beach, you know?" Gray chuckled at her antics.
The bright moon reflected its light on to her, highlighting her fair features for him to see. The way her damp blue hair hugged her face, the way her towel clung to her curves, the way her fair skin reflected the light…
But it was her smile he found the most dazzling.
She's gorgeous… he thought as he approached her. I can finally say this with confidence.
Juvia gazed at the moon as it disappeared into the horizons. A calm and purple gradient filled the skies.
"It's… really beautiful." Juvia said, putting her hands behind her back. "I've never seen a view like this before."
"Yeah." Gray stood beside her to bask in the presence of the view. It's breathtaking… He looked at her side profile, admiring her features. Her beauty could rival the view. He placed his palm over his chest, feeling his heart racing at an incredible speed, just standing next to her.
"Let's head over there!" Juvia settled herself in a corner, resting her back against the wall. Gray followed and sat beside her.
"The hot springs… they're pretty refreshing." Gray commented.
"Yeah, it's so relaxing…"
A moment of silence ensued. The two enjoyed the silence, being in each other's company. Under the calm night surrounded by refreshing hot springs, no words were really needed to express their satisfaction… but rarely does one ever have a night like this. A night that was perfect…
To convey feelings.
Gray grazed into Juvia's deep blue eyes. He never thought he could get lost in those orbs of hers. They were so calm, so gentle. Whenever those eyes focused on him, they were so cute, so happy…
BADUMP.
His heart throbbed against his chest, like a rapidly beating drum, at what he was going to tell her.
"Juvia."
"Mhmm…?"
"Thank you for being by my side."
"O-Oh…" Juvia blushed slightly. "Of course, darling…"
"I've pushed you away too many times, haven't I…" he cast his gaze down. "I've… hurt you too much."
"Gray…?" Juvia stared at him, concerned. It was odd he'd bring this up now.
"I wish I could have treated you better…"
"Gray…" she gently held his hand to comfort him. "You shouldn't say those things…"
"Juvia…" he gently squeezed her hand, feeling her warmth.
"When we first met, I was quite… aggressive." She brought her knees to her chest. "I've always been forceful… always trying to get your attention."
"Mhmm…" Gray really couldn't deny this. Juvia used to be overbearing in the past, but she'd become quite understanding of him now.
"You say you've hurt me… but I'm the one who's annoyed you a lot." She smiled softly.
"Haha…" he let out a little laugh. "Guess we'll call it even, huh?"
"Hehe…" she giggled. "I suppose, darling."
"Do you… still remember our Fairy Night, Juvia?"
"Of course." She nodded. "I could never forget it."
The memories of their dance night were still vivid in his mind, as if it was just yesterday he asked for her hand under the starry night sky.
"I'll always be by your side, Gray. Nothing will ever break us apart."
"I just… want to protect you."
"I know you will. We will stand by each other's side. We'll protect each other…"
"… Because I love you."
Her words echoed in his mind. He couldn't believe himself… that he'd keep her waiting for this long, that she'd still harbor the same feelings for him as she did back then. To think such an amazing person has always been by my side…
Gray always blamed himself for not being able to protect the ones he loved. His master Urd, her daughter Ultear, his father Silver… they slipped away from his life one by one. It left his heart frozen.
And he didn't want that to ever happen to the most precious person in his life.
"I… may not be able to say those words now, but… could you wait for the day I finally do?"
"Of course, Gray. I'll be waiting."
She still was waiting, even until now. And he wouldn't make her wait any longer.
"Juvia." he crouched down in front of her. He steeled his resolve, ready to see this through the end.
"Gray…?" she gazed into his dark eyes. He seemed so… serious.
"I'm ready."
"You're… ready?"
"It took me a long time to realize how important you are to me." He whispered, taking her hands in his.
"H-Huh…?" Juvia's mouth went agape. Her heartbeat began picking up pace.
"I want to live a life where I can be by your side."
"G-Gray…" a faint red glowed on her cheeks. What is happening right now?
"Where I can make you happy."
"…" she was speechless, having a hard time believing the words escaping his lips.
"I–"
"Wait, wait, wait!" Juvia frantically splashed the water around, unable to maintain eye contact with him any longer. Her face heated to serious temperature.
"J-Juvia...?"
"I'm not ready!" she clasped her cheeks, visibly flustered. "I'm not ready! My heart isn't ready!"
"Huh?" he blinked at her antics.
"Give me a moment!" she turned around, breathing heavily to calm herself. Is this… really happening? Right now? Judging by the mood and his words, it could only mean one thing, right? Right?!
"Pfft…" Gray covered his mouth to stifle his laughs. And here I am, trying to gather all my courage… how amusing she was. He's the one talking, yet she's the one nervous…
"Deep breaths, Juvia! Deep breaths!" She muttered to herself, clapping her face multiple times. It is possible Gray could say something else entirely, but the mood was too perfect! Why would he say those sweet things to her? Under the full moon, no less?!
Gray let out a sigh. Her being the flustered one relieved all the tension from his body. He inched towards her and wrapped his arms around her delicate body from behind, pulling her into his embrace.
"G-Gray…" She felt so safe in his embrace. He may be an ice wizard, but his warmth still warmed her heart. She held his arms, desiring to be closer to him.
"I love you, Juvia." Gray whispered, tightening his hug around her. "I can finally say those words to you."
The words he couldn't say to her, the words he wanted to say to her, the words she always wanted to hear… his feelings finally escaped his heart.
"… Mnnngh…" Tears welled up in Juvia's eyes. Her body began shivering in his embrace.
"J-Juvia?!" Gray was not expecting her to cry. Shoot, that's not what I planned!
"I'm not… crying!" Her tears broke through like a waterfall, streaming down her cheeks. "I'm not…!" She couldn't contain her tears anymore. Her tears of happiness. It's always been her dream to have Gray return her feelings and now that he did… it felt so unreal. Like an actual dream she didn't want to wake up from.
"Heh…" Gray rested his head on her shoulder, cradling her hands in his. He'd let her cry for as long as she needed to. Her reaction was surprising, considering she never held herself back from expressing her feelings to him.
"I don't… deserve your love…" Juvia sobbed. Her mind felt so… lightheaded, so high up in the sky. Was this a dream? Was this reality? With Gray's feelings right in front of her reach, could she reach for them as she always wanted?
"Well, too bad." He lovingly stroked her flushed cheek. "I want to be by your side. Nothing will break us apart."
"… Mnngh…"
"We'll stand by each other's side. We'll protect each other..."
He was paralleling her words from their Fairy Night back to him. Juvia meekly turned around in his embrace, looking into his gentle eyes.
"Because I love you."
"Huaahn…" Juvia clenched her fist on her chest, her heart throbbing for him. Immense joy washed over her and her heart swelled up with so much happiness that she couldn't contain them! She latched her arms around his back, burying her head into his chest. "I love you too, Gray!"
"I know." He stroked her blue hair, running it through the entire length. "You always have."
He gazed into her eyes and gently lifted her chin up. His eyes flicked to her puffy lips… in this very moment, he wanted nothing more than to be there for her.
Juvia caressed his cheek, gazing into his eyes before traveling down to his parted lips. Her heartbeat accelerated at the sight. Oh, his face was so beautiful, but his lips… they glistened under the moonlight, entrancing her senses up close.
She slowly closed her eyes, resigning herself to him…
He slowly closed his eyes, drawing her chin closer…
Their lips touched. A kiss brimming with the feelings she held back for so long. A kiss brimming with the feelings he wanted to confess for so long. A kiss brimming with their affections for each other.
"Please… take care of me, Gray."
"I'll be in your care too, Juvia."
