Notes: did i forget to post this chapter till a year later? yes, yes i did lmao. hope you enjoyed this story, thanks for reading! :)
There are not many people in the world who could ever truly say that they were living in the wrong time.
Captain Gray Fullbuster could.
Sure, there were things that he had never thought would be possible after waking from the ice – like peace, cellphones and the internet, which he thought were spectacular – but he had a hard time integrating in. He never was, after all, born surrounded by this much technology.
And so, Gray couldn't help but feel the disconnect between him and the present. He felt a bit detached from reality, similar to how kids of now would watch so-called "sci-fi" movies, with their glasses that made you feel woozy.
Magnolia Hospital was a nice respite from all that, with its luscious gardens away from the bustling crowds in the city center.
He felt a bit thankful, really, for Makarov Dreyar, who wished for him to visit one of Fairy Tail's founders at the hospital. At first, Gray was confused. Why would he need to visit a hospital when his medical exams were all located at Fairy Tail itself?
"It'll be nice for you, I feel. It'll help you ground yourself."
"What? That I'll get to talk to someone my age?" Gray replied, jokingly.
"I'm hopeful."
"… I'm older than you, you know."
Makarov only smiled thoughtfully.
'Ah,' Gray thought. 'Remembering that damn smile is annoying me again.'
He huffed, walking through the hallway were he met a few nurses who, silently but obviously, glanced his way. Maybe there were a few advantages to looking young.
Feeling a renewed confidence, Gray continued walking.
The hospital was serene, not quiet in the way that you could feel the tension of illness in the air, but a peaceful quiet. Gray hummed, the management of this hospital was obviously nice. His mind raced back to small rooms, with missing legs and bloody torsos. Crying. Begging. Claustrophobic even with ample space.
Gray stopped, looked down on his hands. And breathed.
In. The hallway was cream-colored.
Out. His shoes were blue.
In. Room 405.
Out. Focus on that, Gray Fullbuster.
When he finally calmed down – a few stares lingered on him – Gray's gaze moved forward, his periphery catching the number 5.
He turned his gaze to the right. Room 405, it said in huge bold letters.
He almost laughed.
Taking a deep breath, Gray grasped the doorknob and turned – his grip steady.
What greeted him was a sight he did not expect.
Lying on the hospital bed beside a table carrying a vase filled with buttercup flowers, was a woman of old age sleeping peacefully. Her silvery white hair flowing down due to gravity as it sprayed across the cream white pillow.
Wha..?
Stepping inside, Gray cautiously looked around. No one was around. His grip on the doorknob loosening and falling on his side, the door slowing closing and Gray belatedly realized that he should have checked the patient's name before entering – but it was too late for that now.
Gray would always recognize her.
"That damned old man."
Juvia Lockser.
Gray did not know if he wanted to laugh or cry. He did not even now if he wanted her to still be alive or not.
Approaching her, with her wrinkles and white hair, is a punch in the gut for him. He lowered his eyes – a fit body of a 27-year-old greeted him.
He laughed, sardonically.
He wanted to cry.
Juvia stirred in her sleep, before slowly opening her eyes. His laugh, it seemed, had woken her up.
"Who… is it?" Gray was reminded of a time long ago – of someone who used to sing him lullabies to sleep, of another who comforted him every time a blizzard occurred.
And Gray imagined himself exuding the same aura she had reminded him of. He imagined backaches, canes, and the lone chair beside her bed.
"Sorry I'm late. It's Gray, Juvia."
There was a flash of recognition in her eyes and then – tears. She smiled, "You're very late, Gray-sama."
"You still call me that?" She laughed, and still the corners of her eyes would crinkle in the way Gray had remembered.
"… Well. Habits." She shrugged.
"Can I hug you?" Gray blurted it out before even knowing.
She blinked, obviously taken aback by his sudden question. Deep blue eyes peering back at him. They never lost their shine.
Ah, Gray thought. She is still her.
And he hopes, I am still me.
He knows he is lying to himself.
But she surprises him – "You never changed, Gray-sama. You still like hugs."
Gray paused. The first tear fell, then the second.
Then he was crying – he was not bawling nor sobbing, just tears falling from his dark blue eyes because he loves her.
Still does.
Her gaze softened, reaching out her arms to surround the man she had waited for every single day for the past 70 years.
No words were exchanged. Just the warmth from each other as they bask in the present, and that was enough for them.
"Thank you." Gray finally breathed, "Now, I heard you founded Fairy Tail?"
The twinkle in her eyes shone even more, and she proceeded to tell him what her life had become for the past 70 years.
Along with pride, Gray couldn't help the envy creeping in. As she listened, he could not help but wonder the what ifs.
He shook his head and focused on her voice. In. Out.
"It's a good thing you weren't there, or else Igneel wouldn't have suggested making an organization to cease Hydra in your name," She laughed, and Gray chuckled.
Then, she stops. Silence reigned for a few minutes. And Gray, confused, called out to her, "Juvia?"
She looked at him, her eyes glazed and as confused as his were. "… Who… are you?"
He felt his stomach drop.
Of course, she wouldn't have been in a hospital for nothing.
"I- uh, I–"
He was at loss for words that day.
Gray didn't give up.
Every day he would visit to her – and every day she would forget ever meeting him again. But he didn't stop.
He knew she never gave up on him ever returning and neither will he.
He opens her door, "Hey, Juvia. I brought you Caramade Franks."
She looks at him with those once again blank stares, "… Who?"
He smiles, and the cycle starts once more.
Then he found his own.
After Fairy Tail had been out of operation – Gray swore to Juvia and Igneel that he would be the one to continue their legacy, he would stop any threat to everyone's lives.
At first it had been a pain in the ass – especially that son of Igneel, Natsu. Although he had inherited his father's genius in creating inventions and firearms, he apparently hadn't inherited his father's nice temper.
But still, they were his own.
So, when the United Nations wanted to take his team under them, Gray didn't want to. These people had intentions, and he experienced his friends' organization crumble down because of those intentions.
But Natsu was fine with it – with anyone, actually. Because as long as they were under control, he was fine with anyone.
Gray still didn't trust them.
As they argued on and on about what to do – Gray felt his pocket vibrate. Fishing out his phone, he read the message he just received.
His blood ran cold. His breathing stopped.
Not even a second past and he was running towards where she was. Everyone was shouting at his back – but Gray didn't care.
He was losing his own home.
And now he lost her.
She's gone.
In her sleep.