I've been lowkey so into gruvia and navia recently that I'm truly buzzing over this fic

Juvia groaned, holding back her tears as she nursed her ankle, huddling against the rocks she slid down for some semblance of warmth.

She looked up into the dark night that shrouded her in mystery, hiding her from anyone that had the chance of seeing where she was.

She winced, holding the wound on her head, too dizzy to collect herself. It hurt to yell and she didn't want to strain herself in fear of passing out.

It was dumb of her to walk off in the middle of the night by herself, especially when Lucy had offered to go with her. But she wanted to find the scarf that Gray had dropped…the one she worked so hard to handmake for him.

She overheard him talking to his friends laughing about how he tossed it behind him and left it in the snow.

Juvia felt a bit foolish for going back to get it, but she made it herself. She learned how to knit herself and it took months to finally get it right. If Gray didn't want it then she could at least get it back for herself, is what she thought.

But she just had to go and fall down the side of a hill with no luck of finding where he'd let it go.

The cold began to nip harshly at her cheeks and nose, burning and burrowing their way into her skin. Juvia cringed as she looked at the bright light of her cellphone screen. She frowned and turned off the screen after seeing that she had no signal, not even holding it up would help her.

She wiped away the bit of blood ready to fall into her eye, leaning her head to rest against a rock.

"Just don't…just don't fall asleep,"

"Juvia! For christ's sake, Juvia! Where the hel–heck did you go?!"

There was the light of a flashlight bursting through the trees above her, frantically moving around as whoever tried their best to look for her.

Their voice was deep, one that began to fade with each passing moment, but she began to recognize it somewhat.

"Gray-sama!"

The pounding in her head began to be too much for her, her injuries forcibly putting her to sleep.

When Juvia woke up again, her body was being carefully cradled, her head leaning softly against a warm chest.

She mumbled incoherently, cozying up to the person who held her.

"Juvia? You up?" She blinked and stared upwards, surprised by the mop of pink hair that met her gaze.

"…Natsu-san?"

"I know ya wanted ice princess to find you, but that no good piece of…well, you know that I don't like to swear in front of you. Luce told woke me up and said you were gone too long so I came to find ya."

"Is he…what did he say?"

"You're hurt to hell and you're still worried about what that ass–idiot's up to? He didn't even bother getting out of bed. He figured you were fine, a real crackpot he is."

His voice began to fade again, forgetting that she was still injured. Natsu continued to talk which helped her a bit, keeping her from dozing off completely. She couldn't make out what he was saying but felt comforted all the same. Natsu was always there for her when she needed him most, in those times that Gray seemed to let her down the most.

She swore he was still talking to her when she began to come to again, his voice not far off, as though he was still carrying her out of the woods.

"N-Natsu-san…?" Her voice was strained and dry, her hand limply reaching out for his when she didn't feel his arms around her.

"It's me, actually," She tiredly turned her head to face Gajeel, his eyebrows knit together as he gingerly took hold of her hand.

"Gajeel-kun," She smiled softly as he still sported a twisted face.

"The others were here to see you earlier, but they couldn't stop crying…the nurse made 'em leave. Didn't want your fever getting worse,"

"Oh…I didn't notice it," She laughed a bit, coughing and choking from the lack of water.

"Sit up a bit," He instructed, holding her back steady as he tipped a cup against her lips.

"They're not too worried, are they?" Juvia asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke.

"Salamander brought you in with a bloody gash on your head, whaddya think? Bunny girl's beating herself up for not going out with you and Shrimp can't even leave their room. Erza and Cana were tryna keep them calm, but you know them, watching someone cry always makes them cry. The rest of the school doesn't even want to leave the hotel with you sick like this. We're staying here until you can leave, no one wants you to go home on your own."

"And Gray-sama? Did…he come to visit me?" She asked, knowing the answer before Gajeel could even speak. His lips tightened and he stood from his chair, curling his fist as he threw her a pained glare.

"That fucking bastard…I swear he doesn't deserve you at all! He just ran out of the place, woke up this morning looking happy as hell, and then he just fucking ran off when we told him,"

"Juvia's sure… Juvia's sure Gray-sama…Gray-sama will…" She began to cough, the fever reclaiming her with its delirious haze, trapping her in a swollen headache of a fog.

She came in and out of these blips, her head injury failing to let her keep proper consciousness. Lucy and Levy and the rest of the girls came in with swollen eyes and hoarse voices. Natsu cried angry tears by her side, holding her limp hand between his.

There was no telling how long she'd been asleep, for a few days she assumed at times. But not once when she opened her eyes, was Gray there beside her. Which made her think that maybe it hadn't been that long, maybe just a day or two. She really didn't know what she was expecting from him at times.

She still really wanted to see him, for him to hold her hand like the others did. Her eyes never stayed open long enough for her to ask where he was or how he was feeling.

Her fever broke at some point, just suddenly she felt right as rain. She still had to bandage her head, and her ankle was still swollen, three days having passed.

The nurse recommended she stay in bed for a couple more days, just to regain her health since she couldn't stomach anything with her persistent fever.

Once she woke up, that first day with a clear head, she wasn't allowed any visitors. Just to give her a bit of clarity and to keep her health steady.

It was a bit lonely, especially since she just woke up and was dying to let her friends know that she was okay.

Juvia was all napped out, staying awake until the sun fell and the moon rose, flashing its light into her bedroom window.

The door suddenly squeaked open as she began to doze off some time past midnight, surprised by the person who walked in. With that silly scarf wrapped around his neck.

"Hey,"

"Hey,"

Juvia could say definitively that Gray often spoke with his eyes before he ever did with his words. And always with her, the way he looked at her just told her what he was going to say.

"Where has Gray-sama been? Juvia was waiting," She said, a bit of anger in her voice as he took a seat beside her.

"Looking for the scarf," He said, looking away from her as he rested his elbows on his knees. "It was up in a tree, you never would've found it like that,"

"But…but that isn't the point." Gray cleared his throat, his lips twisting as he tried to force out his next sentence. "You could've died out there…all alone and I would've been the damn reason,"

"Juvia doesn't think that's a very good apology," She stifled a laugh, used to his emotional glares that masked what he was feeling underneath.

"Don't! Just––Juvia, come on, over this of all things!" He said as he tugged on the scarf. "It's just a fucking piece of––!"

"It means a lot more to me and you know that!" She shouted, wincing as her head wound stung a bit.

"D-Don't yell!" He said quickly, his attitude changing as he worried over her health. "I'm sorry, I'm not saying any of this right at all…"

"Sometimes Juvia gets tired of how much of an idiot Gray-sama can be," She sighed as he settled back into the chair. "Natsu-san was there for me, he always is,"

"Uh-huh," He pursed his lips, frowning at her words. "If I woulda known you were in trouble…well I never thought you'd just go out in the middle of the…I just always think you're going to be okay, okay? I don't worry about you, I always think you're going to be okay, no matter what happens,"

Juvia smiled a bit as he huffed, his hand wiping roughly over his face.

"I'm sorry," He groaned, their eyes meeting again in a pained lock. "I'm so sorry, Juvia. I wish I knew you were out there. I should'nt've tossed your gift like that…I should have come to see you sooner, I'm the worst,"

"Juvia's no worse for the wear," She shrugged, blushing a bit as he took hold of her hand.

"I'll worry about you from now on, alright? So don't do anything dumb like this again without telling me,"

"As long as Gray-sama is a little more honest with Juvia, yeah?"

"Yeah…I promise…"

I write Gray struggling to understand his feelings so often pfft but that's just such a part of his characteeeeer that I love it so. much

But since he's been a lot more honest in the sequel, I should be nicer next time lmaooooo

I'm a bit tired from overworking, but otherwise I'm alright! I got a conditional acceptance to my #1 transfer choice! I have to wait for the spring to possibly enroll, but I hope I get in alright!