Gray wasn't huge on economic affairs. He knew that he should be at the very least concerned with it, but there was just a certain lethargy he couldn't shake when approaching the subject. He couldn't always be bothered with eco-friendly crap.

Juvia came over to his house this weekend, and the first thing she asked after lunch was, "Where's the recycle bin?"

Gray wasn't all that ashamed to say that there wasn't one, but he couldn't help feeling just a tad self-conscious when Juvia was the one asking. Any one else? He'dve blown them off and told them not to worry about it. But for some reason, because it wasn't anyone else, he felt compelled to tell a white lie.

The next day, there was a container in his kitchen for Juvia to toss her biodegradables into.

She smiled contentedly, dare he say almost knowingly, and voiced her appreciation for the new plastic bin in the corner of his kitchen.

"You know, I didn't peg you as the type to be as involved in the wellbeing of our natural economy as I am, and clearly you're not, but thanks for caring enough to at least get a recycling bin."

Gray shrugged, an awkward smile pulling at his lips. "Can't grow old in a pigsty of a planet, can I?"

Juvia just chuckled at his lameness and went back to painting something. It was large and monochromatic, but Gray wasn't paying enough attention to make out solid details; art was better judged in its final form anyway. Juvia seemed placated by his decency to accommodate for his friend that cared about the environment.

Gray was relieved she was relieved. Making friends was always fairly difficult for him; he tended to give people the cold shoulder unintentionally. It was nice to know that he could both develop and hold a friendship without the help of one of his other friends. Speaking of, he ought to have them meet each other at some point.

"Hey, what do you think about going to get smoothies with the rest of my friends on Saturday? I think you'll like them."

"Sure, why not. I need to get out more anyways."

She said it with nonchalance, but Gray could see that she was faintly worried.

"Don't worry," she looked at him and he gave a friendly smile, "You're their type of person."

The look she gave him afterwards could only be described as gratitude.

l l l l l

"Hey guys, this is Juvia. Juvia, this is Lucy, Erza, and Natsu,"

His friends gave a chorus of joyous greetings, all of which caused Juvia to flush happily. Conversation had just started, and was managing to go well, but Natsu opened his stupid mouth and ruined that.

"So she's your girlfriend, right? About damn time you got yourself a mate, loner!" Natsu cackled heartily after that, as if he had told a knee-slapping joke. A couple of the others chuckled along with him, though he and Juvia were red as tomatoes.

After assuring that they were just friends, the group ordered a round of drinks and made conversation while looking at the menu. When the waiter came, they gave their orders.

"I'll have the Big Brownie,"

Gray blinked at Juvia and she blinked back. They had given the same order at the same time. Natsu thought it was amusing for whatever reason, and laughed. The waiter smiled kindly and wrote it down, then moved on to the others.

They ate and talked and Gray was glad to see that Juvia was getting along with his other friends very well. He was happy, but once he finished his bundle of chocolatey goodness, he found himself a bit upset; he wanted more. His opportunity came when Juvia excused herself to go to the bathroom. When she came back, she immediately noticed that her goody was gone.

"What happened to the rest of my brownie?"

Gray spoke so that someone else wouldn't ruin it and he could get off clean. "Natsu ate it,"

Juvia turned to Natsu. "Really?"

"Hey, you promised not to tell if I didn't!"

"Tell what?"

Gray sighed; he knew he should've blamed it on someone quieter. "I ate the other half of it. Natsu and I made a deal not to rat on each other if we split it."

Juvia across the table at Natsu and then zeroed in on Gray, a disapproving yet amused tilt to her lips. "You know, I never pegged you as the type to lie."

In truth, he seemed like the type to be brutally honest and not give a damn about what others thought.

"I don't lie," Gray answered smoothly, "I just omit the truth."

Juvia laughed, but Gray was forced to give up his brownie to her later.