"So Ryos I mean Rogue what do you need today." Juvia smiled tenderly at the once young boy who followed Gageel around and stalked Phantom lord what felt like just over a year ago for her.
"I came to pick up some salt and chamomile tea." Rogue said.
"Okay….. Here and here… your total will be 400 Jewels."
"Of course here…" He handed her the currency.
The air between the two felt awkward and neither where much of talkers.
In came the steps of another. They belonged to a young tall handsome man he had a similar build to Laxus, he had Purple hair that was in a buzzcut.
"Hi Juvia-Chaaaan." The young man greeted obnoxiously.
"Hella Sam." Juvia smiled politely but it did not reach her eyes Rogue noticed.
"I will take some Green Tea, Pepper corn, Sage and a date please."
"Yes,Yes,Yes and I am sorry but No."
"Juviaaaa- Chan" The man whined indignantly.
"Sam Juvia cannot she is too busy and she has…"
"Gray-sama I know."
"Here are your items." Juvia said her voice filled with artificial cheerfulness.
"Thank you Juvia-chan … you know where to go when your done chasing that asshole." Sam said as he ran out of the shop.
Juvia was literally steaming at her work station.
"Wow that was random." Rogue commented when Sam was out of earshot.
This Juvia was so different from the one he knew. The Rain Woman, Juvia of the Deep, Juvia of the Great Sea, Juvia Lockser of Phantom Lord. That Juvia would never had taken such disrespect. He was not sure how he felt about Juvia Lockser of Fairy Tail.
He was brought back to 7 years ago when he was Ryos when he stalked Phantom Lord. A boy who trained constantly so that he could enter the prestigious guild and be noticed by his hero Black Steel Gajeel.
"Not really Grandma Guela likes having Juvia work the counter because she brings that kind of business on her slow day tea and miscellaneous items have sky rocketed for her since Juvia came to work here."
"This isn't suitable work for you Lady Juvia." Rogue scoffed.
She who had a constant grim expression in the face toward the world was a little different towards him. Just a little boy with ambitions. Her smiles lit up the world in the midst of her own bad weather. She would pay him mind and acknowledge his strength and hard work even giving him tips in passing. She believed in him even when his hero payed him no notice. He felt bad for the way he treated her he always wished it was Gajeel instead but it was always her who accompanied him in the rain. That kindness seemed to be amplified now. She was not the girl who always had a grim expression towards the world whose smiles where few and far in-between.
'Is her kindness cheap now?' He wondered
"Remember what Juvia told you when you were training?" she smiled at him fondly.
"That if I worked hard I would be recognized." Rogue said smoothly.
"No I am not above or under anything" She bagan to chant looking at Rogue expectantly.
"For I am water and am a part of everything and am everywhere."
"For I am a shadow and part of everything and am everywhere." Rogue smiled finishing the quote along with her.
"Lady Juvia what does a silly chant have to do with the fact that you are doing yourself a disservice working in a place like this in hiding after recent events?" Rogue asked a little impatiently.
"Where is Frosche?" Juvia asked changing the subject. Rogue could get the hint and he was not pushy.
"Frosche is sleeping.",Rogue lifted his cape to show a sling and inside a sleeping Exceed green exceed cuddled to his chest.
"Juvia is at work and she has some stuff that she wants to say to you. But later… would you too like to come over for soup?"
"Sure wait Gray won't mind will he?" Rogue asked.
"No Gray will probally want to talk to you as well he hasn't spoken to anyone on the ourside since Tartaros." She said quietly.
"I'm not sure I really don't know either of you too…"
"Ryos." Juvia Pouted "It is Christmas Eve and I don't think you want to spend it on the road."
"Fine when do you get off work? I'll go stay with you two." Rogue sighed.
Rogue felt strangely happy inside over Juvia offering to let him into her home. He wasn't sure that she would want anything to with him anymore since he was no longer a little boy but now a young man who was older than her.
He felt silly to think that anything about Juvia Lockser could ever be cheap no matter what she would always be as genuine and kind as the sea was deep.
"Thank you Rogue I can't wait to show you our home… mine and Gray-sama that is. We get off at 5 p.m" She giggled. Rogue gave her a fond smile.
"I'm going to explore the village a little bit maybe go to the library."
"Oh if you go to the library could you ask the man if Juvia Locksers books have arrived."
"Of course Lady Juvia." Rogue gave her a fond smile and took his leave.
A.N.
I love Rogue and Juvia and i wanted to find a way to put them in but not as a ship but as friends.
I thought about small Rogue following Gajeel around and Juvia encouraging him to keep working hard.