When their train arrived back in Magnolia Freed insisted he walk Juvia directly to her apartment and he went to the guild alone to report on their mission. She unlocked her door and walked inside relieved to be home, taking her boots off she stepped into a large wet spot on her carpet, looking around she didn't see what would have caused water to seep into the rug. The spot was cold, she noted, there was no cup or bowl around that might have spilled….there seemed to be no obvious explanation. Throwing a towel over the spot she soaked up as much as possible and when she picked up back up she noticed a small whitish item stuck to the terrycloth of the towel, grabbing the item to pull it off it was clearly ice.
She slid her feet back in her boots and ran toward the guild, she suddenly hated living on her own and having no one there to still her fears, running the entire way to the guild she panted outside the doors knowing she should calm herself before anyone saw her in this state. Once she could keep her appearance neutral, she crossed the threshold and slowly walked toward the table at the far side where she could find Gajeel sitting with Levy clearly deep in conversation, passing by Gray he grabbed her elbow and whispered into her ear, "did you get my message? Ice doesn't wait forever, next time hurry before it melts." He rushed away from her but she could still feel the tickle of his breath on her skin leaving chills through her entire body.
Glancing at Gajeel again she felt herself struggle to breathe, all of her work to overcome her fears seemed to go out the window all at once, it is much easier to overcome fears when it seemed like he was done messing with her. Her pulse thumped heavily, feeling it pound in her head she turned again and left the hall, deciding she should just leave everyone out of her trouble, feeling that she wasn't worth the effort they put into the protection. Gajeel had already housed her and protected her for six months, during this time he worried about her and it cut into the time he would have spent with his daughter, she didn't want to cause everyone so many issues. If Gajeel found out about Gray being in her place he would surely move her back in with him and she would be back to feeling like she had no freedom. Before she knew it she was running back toward her apartment and so distracted she barely noticed those around her, she smacked into Laxus and he caught her before she tumbled to the ground. "What's the rush? He asked. She looked around her, darting her eyes from one place to the next checking her surroundings, "why are you so jumpy? Did something happen?"
She blew a shuddered breath before telling him about the encounter with Gray a few moments before and explained why she didn't tell Gajeel right away. He pulled her toward her place and helped her pack a bag, "you are going to stay with me until we take care of this, I don't feel like I can relax with you here." While she gathered items from the bathroom, he kneeled down to inspect the water on the floor, definitely demon slayer magic, he sensed the strange energy it left behind and wondered how he had gotten inside, looking up and down the door frame and along the windows he saw no damage or sign of a break in. The whole situation worried him.
Taking Juvia back to his place seemed to calm not only his nerves but hers as well, she curled up next to him on the sofa reading a book with her head resting gently against him, he ran a finger up and down the soft skin inside her elbow as she made silent expressions at the happenings of her book. A soft knock at the door caused her to jump and color drained from her face, giving a quick glance he placed a kiss on her forehead, "Levy," he explained.
Entering the lightning mage's place for the first time Levy gave a quick glance around before she sat on the edge of a chair and glanced into the sling on her body where the Ari slept soundly. Levy gently lifted her out and smiled handing her over to Juvia who gladly held the small child. Levy then pulled a few books and scrolls out of her bag, "I found some information for you Laxus."
Looking confused, Juvia listened as Levy read from a book, "Being an unstable and mysterious magic; if exposure to demon slayer magic happens at too rapid of a pace the user can have adverse reactions including dark markings, eye changes, and full demonization. "
Laxus stood and began to pace the floor behind the sofa where Juvia sat, "That could explain his changes but if Juvia is the only one he is after that still leaves a strange obsession issue. Does it say anything about how to undo the demonization?"
"Well, what I have found so far is hazy at best, but I might be heading in the right direction, I am looking into an option I want to run by Freed, but it's hard since we don't want to alert Gray to the research," Levy pushed on her gale-force reading glasses and moved through heavy tomes as she continued talking, "I think if I keep at it I can have answers soon."
"You guys have been researching this?" Juvia asked in disbelief.
"I came to the bookworm when he showed up on your last job, Freed was the one that noticed the black marks being a common theme, but we weren't sure if it would pan out." Laxus explained. "I honestly don't want to blame Gray for all of this, it seemed like he was a good guy and I didn't think he was capable of abusing one of our own," he clarified.
"I think, after looking at this particular volume," Levy said gesturing at a massive book, "that there could be a encasing and potion combo that would remove his demon slayer magic completely, but the problem would be getting him to participate."
"I aint worried about whether he complies, I will drag his ass through the streets if I have to," Laxus said showing his agitation.
Levy continued to pour over her information reading excerpts aloud as Juvia rocked the baby and Laxus tried to formulate a plan. Yawning, Levy looked at the time, "I better pack this one back up and get home before Gajeel loses his mind," she took her daughter, placing her back in the baby carrier and gave a quick hug to Juvia before heading out.
Laxus pulled Juvia up from her sitting position and hugged her against his body, "I need you to be safe," he said, "I have to attend a meeting with Gramps tomorrow and I want to you go stay with Levy until I get back." Juvia nodded, "but if you need to relax before then might I suggest a shower with a bodyguard?" he waggled his eyebrows.
Pulling back and suppressing a giggle Juvia tried to look serious as she asked, "Oh? Is Freed available?"
Laxus gave an indecent smile, "I am going to get you for that one," she ran down the hallway and he playfully followed her.
The next morning Laxus snuck out early leaving Juvia soundly asleep wrapped in the blankets. His meeting with his grandfather was one they had put in their schedules over a week ago but he still drug his feet as he went into the office, knowing he would rather be back in bed close to Juvia.
When she woke up, Juvia gathered a few things and tossed them in her bag before stepping out the door to spend the morning with Levy, but as she began to walk to her friend's place she remembered that she had bought a gift for Ari on her last mission and went toward her apartment instead. She unlocked the door and darted inside to rummage through her satchel from her last mission, not having taken the time to unpack anything she knew the small toy was still inside, seeing it fall free of her clothing she snatched it up turning to see someone standing in her doorway.
"Lucy," Juvia questioned, "what are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you," she replied quietly, "can we sit?"
Feeling uneasy Juvia moved toward the door, "I actually have somewhere to be right now, but we can meet up later at the guild if you want."
"I need you to be alone," Lucy whispered, "I need you to tell me what happened with you and Gray.
Juvia felt nervous and wondered why Lucy would be asking, hoping it would not be a trap. "Why don't you tell me what you think happened and I will just fill in the blanks," Juvia suggested, not wanting to say the wrong thing.
Lucy began, "Gray had told us that you had been stalking him to the point that he had to go to the master to keep you away from him, he would say you were completely psycho. Natsu said he had smelled your scent on him quite a bit and said you had definitely been around him, but we were still unsure."
Juvia took a breath trying to remain calm as she heard the lies that Gray had told his team, and who knows how many others, a layer of clouds formed overhead darkening the sky. Lucy looked outside at the changing weather and then back to Juvia, "But the thing is, I think he did something to you," a shuddered breath came before Lucy's next words, "because I think it's the same think he is doing to me." Juvia froze and looked at the blonde, she saw the fear in her eyes as she continued, "it all makes sense now, how you disappeared for weeks and suddenly turned up living with Gajeel and Levy, the way Gajeel never left you alone, you guys thought it would happen again and he was protecting you."
Juvia looked at Lucy and asked, "how long has this been going on?"
"We started fooling around a few weeks ago, when he got rough and out of hand he started to blame it on fetish or role play, but when he saw you with Laxus it was like a switch flipped and it got a lot worse and I knew it wasn't okay, but I was afraid to leave or tell anyone," Lucy recalled.
"Are you hurt now?" Juvia asked gently.
"Not too much," Lucy said frowning, "I have managed to stay away from him lately, for the most part."
"Let's get out of here, come with me to see Levy, we are working on something that could solve all of this," Juvia said, pulling Lucy up by her hand.
Lucy glanced out the window into the rain Juvia had unleashed, "I don't think that is going to work," she said reluctantly.
Juvia turned to see a silhouette against her rain, moving toward them putting off a black aura, as he grew closer their suspicions were confirmed. Gray looked unwell, black markings streaking his body and a vacant look on his face.
Juvia's rain had turned partially to sleet as Gray got closer, Lucy gripped Juvia's arm as the storm grew stronger and they knew they needed a plan.