Chapter 3: New Friends And New Changes
A couple months have passed and there were many changes to the guild. An Iron Dragon Slayer, named Gajeel, joined the guild and Lucy was conflicted on how she felt. On one hand, he had hurt her real bad and even seemed to enjoy it, which scared her in the moment. On the other hand, he honestly seemed like he wanted to be a better person. Levy has taken a liking to him too, though she will never admit it. She is such a good friend to Lucy, I think she feels bad to admit it. Gajeel also seems genuinely interested in Levy and treats her well. He already has saved Lucy and Levy countless times. The nightmares of how he hurt Lucy still haven't calmed down yet.
The other big change was a water mage named Juvia. She was a sweet person and Lucy truthfully liked being her friend. the only problem was, Juvia is OBSESSED with Gray. Gray seems annoyed by it, but also never tries that hard to push her away either. Confusing Lucy even more, on top of the whole Gajeel thing. Deciding not get in the way, Lucy decided to bury her feelings for Gray and focus on herself and maybe someone else.
Gray began noticing that Lucy was hanging around Natsu more causing him to get in a sour mood easily. He tried not showing it, but it effected him big time. Partly, he blamed himself for not speaking up about his feelings sooner. He hated the way Natsu was oblivious to her feelings that were starting to develop more. If Natsu did know, he was more pissed bc he is so focused on things he wants, he is ignoring a beautiful girl waiting for feelings to be returned. Juvia basically stalking him didn't improve his mood much either. He was too nice at times. He didn't want to upset Juvia. She was nice but also would send a tsunami this way if she found out were his heart lied. So, he kept quite, kept Juvia around to not feel lonely, and kept his feels buried deep.
Slowly, a blond mage strode from the bar to the table Gray was at, thinking about everything for the millionth time. "Hey Gray! Natsu has another mission for us. Erza is game too. You coming with us?" The sweet voice rang in his ear.
"Um. . . " he mumbled, lost in though. Finally I get to have some time with just her. Well, Natsu is usually distracted and Erza is usually planning out the mission. So, it's just going to be them talking a lot together. "Sure. Could use the job right now."
"Gray-sama! Can Juvia come along!" The water mage begged while wiggling her butt trying to get him to glimpse he curvy frame. It didn't work.
"Sorry Juvia. Next time. Working in a smaller group is more efficient and there should be no need for you abilities this mission." Erza interjected before Gray got a chance to say anything.
Gray just left Juvia sitting there and headed for the door. Natsu and Erza behind him chatting about the mission. Lucy hung back, which caught the other's attention for a second.
Truly considering Juvia a friend, Lucy tried to cheer her up. "Yeah, maybe next time Juvia! It could be fun to go on a mission with you." Lucy said, being as nice as she could without sounding too happy.
"Juvia doesn't want to be around Love Rival. Juvia wants Gray-sama!" Balled the water mage, causing a light rain to start outside.
Lucy backed away slowly and joined her friends, who all VERY discretely rolled their eyes a they head back to their own places to pack. Gray's apartment was close to Lucy's so he walked with her back to her place.
"I'm sorry about Juvia." Gray blurted out to Lucy. He didn't know why he apologised, but he felt he should.
"Oh, it's ok. We all know hoe she feels about you. I was trying to be a good friend. I just wish she saw me as a friend too, instead of a love rival. Why does she call me that anyways?" Lucy questioned Gray, causing him to sweat and panic a bit.
Because you are her love rival. Because I do love you, but I can't tell you. If you felt the same you would have said so, wouldn't you have? Ugh, get it together Gray. Getting his thoughts together before they derailed too much he spoke, trying to make his face look as confused as he could. "Hmmm, honestly I can't think of why honestly?"
Drats. I was hoping he would tell me he had feelings for me. Before I put my full romantic focus on Natsu. Not that there is anything wrong with Natsu, but it's hard trying to convince your heart to leave certain feelings for certain people alone. Feeling disappointed, Lucy could only muster up a tiny "Oh."
The rest of the walk was silent until they split in front of Lucy's place. Putting her thoughts aside, Lucy scrambled around her apartment packing for everything she would need. Sighing she fell onto her bed for a second and chanted to herself: You like Natsu now, so stop thinking about Gray. He has Juvia and she is your friend. It is going to hurt but at least he is in your life as a friend.
After a few minutes of chanting that mantra, Lucy got up and head for the train station. Locking the door behind her, she let out a sigh and plastered her smiling face she always had. Her bad habit, never showing how she felt, hiding behind a mask. Mending the cracks that crumble off with whatever courage she could find.
On the train to the job Lucy sat across from Erza. Gray next to Erza and Natsu, half on the floor, next to her. Happy asleep on the window seal on the other side of her. Still chanting the mantra to herself she needed a distraction, so she started right ideas down for her book. The entire time a certain ice mage was staring at her out of the corner of his eye. Kicking himself for not taking the change earlier to confess how he truly feels.
Walls crumbled as a loud blast echoed around the celestial mage and dark shadows loomed over her. Ready to get pummelled by a bunch of boulders, Lucy closed her eyes. To her surprise, she was alive and in fact not crushed to death by a pile of massive stone. Opening her eyes she was in an ice dome, Gray inches from her face. Eyes closed, he was focus on holding the barrier until the others could come help. Erza, Natsu, and Gray had seen the rocks hurling towards Lucy. Erza was in the middle of a fight, so she couldn't do anything and all Natsu did was yell her name and freeze in place. Gray wa sthe only one to react.
Warm hands wrapped around his torso and a head nuzzled into his neck. Tears started falling onto his cool skin as whimpers were heard in his ear. Lucy, I'm here for you. I always will be. Especially when that flame brain does nothing. I will help you. "You're alright Lucy. I am here now. I will never let anything happen to you." Gray pushed out of his chapped and bleeding lips. They had been fighting this enemy for a little while now.
Between sobs Lucy managed to say, "Thank you so much Gray. If it wasn't for you I would be a pancake right now. I know holding this barrier up is taking a toll on your already exhausted body, so please, use some of my magic energy to help."
Before Gray could protest, he knew she was worn out too, a soft glow emitted from Lucy. Energy flowed through his body and helped easy the weight of holding the barrier. So much power, Gray was stunned. Lucy is a lot stronger than she thinks she is. Everyone can see it but her. How he wished he could be with her so he could show how just how amazing she was.
Rustling and rumbling rang from around them. Slowly, the rocks were being moved as Erza and Natsu cleared the rubble. they had finished taking out the final boss and were now trying to save there friends. A dome made of ice laid beneath the boulders and it was mesmerising. A soft glow was emitting from inside. Taking only a second to marvel at it, Erza and Natsu finished removing enough rocks to get to their friends. Just in time too, because the soft glow faded fast.
Inside, Gray had opened his eyes and took in the feeling, scent and scene of Lucy hugging him. He didn't want this moment to end. That was until Lucy's arms went limp and she fell backwards, about to hit the ground. Letting go of the barrier Gray grabbed Lucy just in time. The barrier dissipated into a blue and gold shimmering cloud floating in streams up to the ceiling. Exposing Gray holding a fainted and limp Lucy.
*** I AM BACK. . . . . . for now! I had MAJOR writers block for a long time. I have been wanting to wrap up my other story and continue this one, but I didn't know where I wanted to go. Finally I just felt in the mood to write something again, so I hope you enjoyed it. It has been some times so hopefully my writing skills (or what little I had) didn't go down hill too much for you all. Oh, and I may changed the story around a bit bc I have ideas and it has been awhile since I watched the earlier episodes. I hope you still enjoy this version anyways!***