Love Me Chapter 2: Royal Blue, a fairy tail fanfic

Disclaimer

I don't own either Fairy Tail or Skip Beat which inspired this AU fanfiction. One belongs to Hiro Mashima and the other Yoshiki Nakamura.

Some dialogue is reused but it just works well.

Currently un-betaed, already apologizing for mistakes.

Lucy lead Juvia up on the stage where a line of chairs. Bright blue eyes glanced over at the narrow table of producers, executives, and director waiting to judge. A tug on her sleeve reminded Juvia to take a seat next to Lucy again. A plain faced assistant walked up to the first girl from behind the table.

"We will put you through a small reaction-test. Via this phone, a partner will be talking to you. We stress to react individually." Instructed the common man in basic grey suit as he handed the phone off to the first girl.

"I guess they are trying to figure out what kind of range they want for this part." Lucy whispered leaning towards Juvia.

"What do you mean?" Juvia pondered titling her head thinking.

"Well the request we got a Fairy Tail wasn't for a detailed one it just specified age and gender for the role." Lucy stated, "But it was decent enough pay for my rent-"

Lucy whispering was cut off as the phone was handed to her.

Standing she placed the phone to her ear, moving her lock out of the way. Her head tilted to insure her tiny pony tail didn't get caught between her and the phone. Juvia focused intently on her expressions. Taking deep breath, Lucy tilted her face down. Chocolate orbs closed causing her thick lashes to brush her cheeks. On the exhale, she looked up stoically only to have shock to tense her entire body. Eyes went wide and began to glisten. In a small whimper, tears flowed down her cheeks. Giant drops flowed, but her face didn't flush red or eye become bloodshot. Lucy's fingers clutched the phone and she brought her free hand to her chest. It seemed not even a few seconds later the phone lowered and her bright beaming smile replaced the sadness.

"Tears! She was able to turn it on and off just like that. That much drama in a short reaction test. Fairy Tail has really great talent!" A voice adoringly commented.

Lucy bowed a little and softly placed the phone in Juvia's hands. Juvia gulped down the rising emotion she felt pouring through her.

"Break a leg!" Lucy whispered as she returned to seat. She winked at the bluenette.

Juvia felt a little stunned at the smooth emotional transitions. Nonetheless she placed the phone next to her ear and waited

" I was such an idiot…"

Confusion racked Juvia her eyes went wide blank and her mouth agape, it almost appeared triangle like in the way her upper lip curled and her lower one dropped. She listened to the phone intensely.

"I was… out with a lot of women since then, but… it somehow didn't work out… They say that… I'm difficult to handle due to my ego."

Juvia began to boil. Her body was stiff and silent as the rage bubbled. Dark malice bloomed on her face.

"So I then realized … …. How much… from the very beginning … For me there was only you… I'm aware that I'm rushing… … Forgive me …"

Her body began to shake. The entire atmosphere of the room changed. Everyone save Lucy nervously leaned away.

"Couldn't we… give it another go?..."

An evil aura swirled around Juvia. For a second Juvia thought of love. She thought of a true prince worthy of her affection. "You want Juvia back?" she sighed. A smile crept on her face imagining a prince that could bring warmth and life like the sun into her life. It fell thinking about the betrayal of her last false prince.

"You foolishly believe after you cheat with all of Juvia's love rivals that Juvia would take you back?!" Juvia seethed into the phone. Homicidal described her mood. "Forgiveness? You will have eternal punishment. Hell is what you will have to look forward to…" Her grip on the phone caused the screen to crack and allowed the phone to drop in disgust.

The phone shattered into pieces as it hit the ground. The lack of grating voice and eerie silence allowed Juvia to return from her rage. Depression filled her when the pressure of everyone's stares hit. Juvia slumped into the chair.

"Juvia apologizes for the phone." She pleaded.

The assistant cleared his throat, "Thank you all for your coming in. We will contact you all for the call backs. Please exit this way."

"Drip, drip, drop…" Juvia cried as she mindlessly walked off.

"Hey! Wait up Juvia!" Lucy shouted trying to catch up the blunette.

The two girls were in the waiting area. Lucy signaled for Juvia to wait, as she gathered a small leather purse. Fearful of being rude to the kind and bright fairy, Juvia remained still. Her only movement was her hand sliding into her pocket to pet her little phone charm. Running back, Lucy returned quickly.

"Juvia, wow you sure made yourself a stand out in there. No doubt those executives are going to be talking about you for a while." Lucy complimented.

"Juvia doubts that. You were the star. How did you? Eh-" Juvia asked fumbling over her words.

"The tears. I thought about not being able to be there for my friends. Taking care and loving others is my only connection I have left to my mother. Thinking about that kind of failure brings me to tears. But knowing I have them allows me to smile." Lucy responded still smiling.

Juvia wondered if Lucy's cheeks were sore from hold the expression.

"Does that-" Juvia began only to be cut off by Lucy.

"I promised you an introduction to Fairy Tail. Follow me." Lucy cheered.

With a strong grip on Juvia's wrist, Lucy led her. The duo darted through people, the masses parting for the beautiful girls. The cobbled sections of ancient magnolia clicked under their heels. Surprisingly, took her river that flowed through town. With practiced ease, Lucy sprung up on stone wall lining river's levee. Juvia struggled to mount and wobbled as Lucy dragged her along.

"I like taking this way to Fairy Tail. The workers are on the river are always nice and it great poise practice." Lucy chatted to avoid any awkward silence.

"Lucy does this frequently…" Juvia grumbled. Her blue eyes narrowed at the deep water off their side.

"Yep." Lucy answered, "Its my own little catwalk. The embarrassment of Natsu making fun of me showing up after I fall in really motivates me to not fall."

"Juvia will take your word"

"I actually live along the river. I could have moved into the dorm Fairy Tail has but I wanted my independence. So basically every day, I do this. Also the jumps up if I do fall really keep my legs strong." Lucy rambled. She continued on this line of thought as they made their way to Fairy Tail.

Juvia zoned out looking at the flowing water but Lucy's sure grip kept her balanced and moving.

The bright multi leveled Fairy Tail building stood as castle from a fantasy land, one where magic and dragons existed. Juvia stood breathless, soaking in the sight. Using her abnormal leg strength, Lucy pushed Juvia into building. She had to back to back, in a near squat but she gotten Juvia in abnormal lobby.

"Um, wander around a bit. I have to talk to Mirajane about Makarov's schedule." Lucy shy admitted.

Juvia nodded thoughtlessly, too focused on exploring.

The lobby looked more like a Hall in regards to the long tables and rich wood tones that hide the steel structure of the building. There was a greeting area that looked like a bar where Lucy was talking to a beautiful white haired woman in a long dress. Voice happily chattered. A huge touch screen board displayed all of the requested roles sent to Fairy Tail. Fingers tips brushed a vacant polished table. She heard the patter of rain hitting the solid doors of the building. Juvia wandered over to what appeared to the elevator though the decorated frame made it appear craved from a giant trunk of a tree. Absentmindedly, she pressed the up arrow. It took a second but with a soft glow and a chime, the door slide open. Sliding in, Juvia looked at all of the different floors. Surprised to see one which marked roof access, she pressed it. A happy tune filled cabin as, Juvia ascended. Much to her surprise the elevator made it up to the top without additional stops. Fumbling out Juvia was in awe of the long hallway. It had dark thick paneled wood flooring. From the ceilings hung small crystal chandeliers, they offered a soft light. Black damask wallpaper lined the corridor. The long hallway was a passageway to connect to the stair entrance on the other side of the building. In the middle frost safety glass French doors exposed the roof top garden spotted with larger paneled skylights.

"Drip, drip, drop…" Juvia cried as she watched the summer downpour.

She shuffled to the French door. Pushing them open, she closed her eyes and joined the rain. Juvia held her hand skyward and let the sensation of the warm rain encompass her. Walking past all of the blooming flowers, she went to the far corner to gaze upon the city. Fog clung to the roof's gravel cobbled surface. Juvia felt one with the rain. Her doubts and fears pattering down the droplets. The roof had lanterns hanging from black metal post endowing a soft glow to the space with the lack of sun light. She leaned against the railing. With a sigh, Juvia began to dream of a land of magic. Alone with the rain she could only hope.

Unbeknownst to Juvia, her solitude would not last long.

Grumbling, Gray Fullbuster fumbled with his pack of cigarettes and lighter. After another bout with Natsu, he craved the soothing sensation of his nicotine. He went up the rooftop to smoke; it was easier to hide his habit for the paparazzi than leaving the building.

"When did it start raining?" Gray growled as he lit the cigarette in his mouth.

He strolled over to the small bench he normally occupied during his smoking breaks. The gravel crunching underneath his heavy boots. The rain quickly made his white short button up translucent and mold to his chiseled torso. Gray had most of the top unbuttoned to show off the Fairy Tail emblem on his right pec and his precious heirloom silver necklace. His black jeans slung low on his hip held up by a thick belt fared better, they only clung to him. Taking a long drag he closed his eyes enjoying this slice of peace.

A masculine voice shocked Juvia to the core. A short sentence and her heart began to race. Juvia noticed the approaching figure, only being able to distinguish shape and the small fire of a cigarette. It stopped a decent distance away from her. Realizing she would have to move to meet this apparition she quietly stalked towards.

"Falling so gently…" Juvia responded in a breathy tone.

The feminine voice caused Gray to snap his head towards the sound and open his eyes. The woman appeared out of the fog and rain, dressed in dark blues and white. He took another drag on his cigarette as he appraised her. Pale skin gleamed in the soft light and the clothes she wore were like second skin in downpour.

"Juvia is a rain woman." She introduced herself and then continued, "Falling so gently…"

"Rain woman? Huh?" Gray chuckled.

A fortune he gotten a festival he attended with "Team Natsu" rang through his head.

You will get an unexpected visitor. The stars point to trouble with water and women

"Juvia never thought she would be in the presence of such a famous actor. However, you mustn't underestimate Juvia. Juvia will destroy all who get in the of Juvia's plan. Juvia must be number one." She countered. She remembered Bora and his fame. Her expression soured.

"Sorry, but even if they're women or children you aren't supposed to be wandering around here." He tried to sound friendly but it came out harsh like the smoke from his lungs. Taking the cigarette out of his mouth he continued. His mirrored Juvia's tense behavior. "And I don't go easy on people who hurt my friends."

Gray prowled over to Juvia his height dwarfing hers. Both were silent as they stared each other down. Testing each other.

Juvia had ever experienced such an intense male interaction. Her heart raced even faster. Blood rushed to face and heat pulled in her belly. He smelled of smoke, bergamont, and oh so masculine musk. She could make out each indentation of his upper body. She had been told of how celebrities had a presence but Juvia never expected to feel such an intense pool. His eyes meant business and should have threatened her, but her body took it of a promise of a different sort.

"I see…" Juvia meeped and quickly turned towards the door.

She tried to sprint but the foreign feeling in her body fought moving away from this craved perfect specimen. She could only managed quick awkward shuffle.

"Juvia has lost! Have a nice day!" Juvia fumbled to say over her loud racing pulse. She was embarrassed. She would have to reevaluate her strategy. She needed to learn to overcome such idols. She knew she could not admit defeat to Bora. She could lose this battle but not the war.

"Whoa, hey!" Gray bellowed across the roof top at her. Once he managed to pull away from watching what could be the most perfect ass and leg combo walk away from him. "What was that about?"

He threw his cigarette on the gravel and snuffed it out with a twist of his heavy boot. And took off after her, hoping to keep her from leaving.

"Juvia, what is the matter with you?" She asked herself. Her face was now a bright pink shade, and she hope anyone who saw it would think embarrassment and not how excited she was. "Why is my heart pounding this way?"

Juvia had believed she had loved Bora body and soul. But her body definitely, never reacted this way. She tried to process what had caused her plan on complete domination of acting world to tilt.

"Hey, hold up! What plan?" Gray called out as he closed the distance on the woman.

He almost believed she could be categorized as a water nymph. She looked too good wet.

Juvia paused and admitted barely above a whisper, "Juvia wants him to belong to her."

She began to turn to face him. Juvia could conquer this. She would be number one in the hearts and minds of the public and this man. She would not be bested.

"Juvia can no longer be stopped!" She screamed as she twirled around.

She held one hand out towards him. Water spiraled from her skirt. She willed the water to trap him. Not expecting her stop, had to force himself to stop. His feet caught in the water and he fell face first on the ground.

"Oh my, he is wounded!" Juvia cried as she witnessed the impact.

All the worst possible scenarios played out in her mind- broken nose, skinned knees, twisted ankles, broken wrist. She was paralyzed that her will had hurt to have him caused him pain.

"What should I do?!" Juvia panicked, her arms flaying.

Gray pushed himself up with a groan. He couldn't believe how ridiculous he must have looked. Cool guy, ice prince could handle properly running after a girl. He looked up and down her body, and decided girl definitely wasn't the right term. He hopped up with the smooth grace of a panther and landed on his feet. He brushed himself off and tried to regain his cool aloofness.

The sound of his feet hitting the gravel surprised Juvia. She was amazed that he was completely unfazed. He broke through her ill wishes and desires.

"This is the true power of an Ice Prince…" Juvia whispered in awe. She swore somehow the rain around him looked like diamonds. "Divine!"

Heat flushed through Juvia's system and some dark corner of her mind her love filter turned on. She fled reality. She could only imagine him tightly clutching her. Skin on skin creating a sinful friction. He would hold her hand firmly on the mark on his chest. Her looking up in nervous expectation. His gaze a soft and needy. An Ice Prince would need water to grow. In Juvia's mind it was destiny. The combo would only strength them. Every cell in Juvia body acknowledged that she had found her prince.

"Why the hell did you stop out of nowhere, you bitch!" Gray barked at the silent woman.

Her eyes had glazed over and her face flushed. He could only imagine how far down her pale body that flush went. Gray groaned when he realized the white shirt was too dirty to wear after his fall. He proceeded to remove the filthy item from his person.

Juvia hadn't even heard him, the rush of her own blood too loud. Although her sense did notice when he graced her with an unobstructed view on his board shoulders, chiseled abs, and narrow waist. Juvia was not certain she was steaming.

"I am not one for coercing women, but …. What the hell are you talking about? You can't avoid my questions. I am not above using force to escort you out of her if you don't." Gray threated rolling his shoulder preparing to hoist the woman over one if she didn't cooperate.

"Your words cannot hurt Juvia. Juvia is made of water." She sneered against his threat. She would not cower. "Yes… falling ever so gently…"

Gray was now confused. What kind of crazy was this woman? Or had he been right assuming her to be a water nymph not of this world.

Juvia frowned, he was her enemy. However strong or seductive of charm he had she could not stop her plan. "Torn apart by discord, this is our fate!" Juvia cried. She wanted him. Was her love meant to be star-crossed? Pouting a bit she announced, "But Juvia will not be overcome. Farewell, my small blossom of love!" She walked over to him and pushed against his chest.

Gray startled wobbled back at bit. He was shocked this wasn't accustomed to this type of interaction.

"Juvia's will to defeat Bora is like a forceful jet of water, it can cut through even steel." She stated haughtily. "Think of it as mere water, and you will suffer the pain."

Gray huffed "Bora? Bora of Prominence? You want into the industry over a lousy pop singer?"

Juvia didn't care to answer him directly and continued to rant, "No matter how you try, the result is the same. Physical attacks are useless against Juvia… Yes… Falling so gently… "

Gray decided this Juvia at least could monologue. With a frown he admitted, "She's a tough one…"

"You cannot defeat Juvia. You can still save yourself." Juvia finally truly addressed him. She figured it was at least polite to warn her future prey. She was using all her strength to keep herself from launching herself at him. "Bring me Lucy. If you do, I will ask President Dreyar to join." She politely ordered.

"You, quit talking shit. We are having a conversation here. And Lucy is a friend, its not like I have her tagged. At the cost of my life, I'll never hand her over… I am not a lackey. I have more self-respect than being servant to a stranger." He snarled. He didn't take well to being treated so lowly. He had earned respect. No matter who someone was, he wouldn't stand being disregarded.

Juvia only noticed the cost of his life portion of his statement. Tone was lost, only the willing exchange… no sacrifice for the beautiful golden buxom enchanting ingénue. Juvia's soul took a sucker punch. Apart from her body, it was adrift in the cosmos… it felt like his confession set her the distance of Saturn's rings. She couldn't breathe in this emotional vacuum. Her first assessment was correct. Lucy was a love rival, not just for the love of the public but of her destined prince.

Love Rival

When her soul returned screams erupted from her throat. Her head throbbed. Juvia clutched at her temples, her entire body hurt. It was a different type of rejection than Bora's. It didn't humiliate but hurt. The very notion of never having her prince by her side as she rose sent white hot pain through her.

Gray froze as the girl threw her body haphazardly around. His entire body tensed, fight or flight instinct was kicking in.

"Such anguish! Such cruel fate cannot be!" Juvia sobbed. Her body began to curl in on itself. "My heart … My heart aches like it's shattering to pieces!" She began to convulse. "It hurts! It hurts!"

Gray did not do well with actual crying women. He could handle it only when he knew it wasn't real. Seeing Juvia in massive amounts of pain distressed him. He didn't understand the need to help.

"Wh- What's the matter? Are you sick?" Gray asked fear evident in his voice. He hesitantly closed their distance.

He couldn't see her face anymore. Gray almost touched her shoulder when she finally looked up. Her eyes were inhumanly wide and pupils dilated overtaking the blue irises. The shadow on her face and stiff posture sent chills down his spine. It was a cold he did not find comforting.

"Juvia will not forgive." Ice laced her statement. "I will never forgive Lucy!"

Rage filled Juvia. Lucy should have been honest for the being of her relationship. If Juvia had be aware she would not have shield herself from the need. Juvia would have known not to ponder the notion. But she had not known it her prince was the forbidden fruit. She had tasted the possibility, she had become drunk on his very presence. Lucy had turned her into the villain in this tale. Juvia was the heroine.

"What the…" The comment escaped him. Gray slumped and he could feel the sweat dripping down his face.

In her rage, Juvia lashed out and gave Gray and undercut to his stomach. The blow was stronger than he imagined and knocked the air out him. The sensation of their skin on skin contact sent tingles through his body. Maybe it wasn't the blow alone that caused his breathlessness. Juvia was too far gone to register the same tingles in her own body.

Regaining his senses he asked "And why are you mad at Lucy?"

Juvia was boiling. She pushed him away with both hands.

Gray tried to dodge.

"She's fast" He groaned. He wobbled as he lost his footing. He had to move his arms in the most uncool way to keep from falling on his ass at the loss of traction. "That was close…"

"The rain has fallen on Juvia since birth. Within this rain, Juvia can never be defeated!" She proudly declared.

Juvia would find strength in her darkness if she could not have her shining prince. If Lucy was a fairy princess of bright light like the sun, stars, or moon she would be the dark evil queen. Her sadness would only give her the will not to be defeated again. She would not experience the same loss and humiliation again. She had changed. She would win.

She stopped next to Gray, so close their chests where almost touching.

"Juvia's jealousy is boiling over!" She screamed her shame. And with her tiny fist began to pummel Gray's strong perfect chest.

"What the hell?" Gray body shook with each blow and he tried to brace himself. The scalding heat of her touches didn't help either. "Such incredible heat! I can't bear it." He silently pleaded to himself.

This heat shooting through him was uncomfortable. He preferred to keep his interactions on the colder impersonal side. His icy armor kept him safe. It kept him from feeling this twisting sensation in his gut. He had met some of the most acclaimed beauties of the time but nothing had effected quite like this strange rain woman.

"I told you. Within the rain lies Juvia's world!" She exclaimed. Juvia wanted him to take her seriously. If not worthy of his affection she would be a worthy adversary. "No one can defeat Juvia!"

"Do you even have any enthusiasm or interest in this business?" Gray finally asked.

The question startled Juvia. She began to search through her motivations. Her attacks halted. Gray managed to recover and calm himself once her touches stopped.

Juvia pondered that true her goal was not true affection from the love of acting or wanting to be loved for the sake of being adored. She wanted to prove that she was worthy, that she was better. Acting seemed the easiest way to conquer Bora's fame. Motivations might be unorthodox and impure but whose was anymore. What was made enthusiasm or interest better than singular revenge?

Suddenly Juvia realized that he had neutralized her and halted her attacks. "He used his works as a smoke screen? He's not only gorgeous, but smart, too. How very wicked…" Juvia admitted, the flush returning to her cheeks. The thought of him being her wicked king was almost as tempting as the thought of him as her prince.

"I don't have time to get held up here. I have got to stop this … magic… quickly" The admission left his lips in a whimper.

He had to get back to talks with Loke about his next role. His "smoke break" was taking too long, someone would start looking for him and then he would have to explain this situation. Gray sighed and began to move towards the escape of the French door. Juvia noticed his movement and resumed her attacks. She slid towards him and checked him with her wide hips.

"That's hot! It's scalding me!" He whispered to himself. The feel of her hips against him. Why was everything so hot? It was raining. How was it not cooling him off? If anything the slick sensations were worse than he imagined it would be dry. He crossed his arms in front his core and tried to protect himself from anymore unwarranted touches.

"With this, you're finished!" Juvia announced. She brought her hand back and slapped him in his face. The impact sounded like thunder as it echoed on the roof. He was certain it would bruise.

"You bitch!" Ice finally returned to his veins. He normally would never feel violent towards an woman but she crossed the line.

Juvia felt the mood shift. Icy fear gripped her. Her attack should have devastated him. She was now the prey. Suddenly, he launched at her with ill intent. A cold burning rage pulsed from his body. His large hands were reaching towards her. She felt defenseless against the strength she knew he contained. She began to back up.

"Freeze!" He growled midair.

"H-How…" Juvia sputtered. She hastily tried to retreat without turning her back on his predator.

On his landing in front of Juvia, Gray forgot to factor in lower coefficient of friction and wobbled again. In his attempt keep himself steady he grabbed the first thing on instinct.

Neither of them were prepared for what Gray grabbed.

His strong, rough left hand tightly held Juvia's ample right breast. On instinct he gave a testing squeeze. Juvia was not prepared to cope with feeling. No one had touched her as such. But she could muster the will to hate him of the feelings it brought. She willingly surrendered, the flush and heat returning to her body. Gray was stunned. How did it fit perfectly in his hand? Why did it fit perfectly in his hand? Why did it feel better than he ever imagined a breast feeling? His was certain his eyes were bugling out of their sockets, his mouth had hit the floor, and his tongue was stuck in time and space keeping him from saying anything.

It took him longer than it should to regain his ability to speak. He was an actor, losing the ability to speak was new to him. He tried to reassure her blabbering, "N-No, its not that…" He was blushing. And he felt a weird anxious fear he couldn't explain. He still couldn't muster the strength to remove his hand from Juvia's borderline heavenly endowments.

Her blushing face, looked so meek and cute to him. It took him a while to realize that she wasn't going to fight him about the fact he had basically molested her, even if it was originally an accident. His touch had lingered far beyond anything accepted as a mere accident. Courts would definitely find intent with how long he had held her … tightly.

"Sorry!" Gray finally mustered the strength to detach and he had to wretch his arm back to his side.

Juvia overcome with the sensations fell to her knees in front of him. Taking a few deep breaths she steady herself by placing her arms on gravel slowly lifted herself from sitting on her calves. She could not find a reason for him to just release her. He hadn't exacted his righteous vengeance. His kindness caused her love for him to soar, and her heart skipped a beat.

Gray was not handling seeing her in such a position. Juvia on her hands and knees looking up at him with adoration was … something he couldn't handle. He lacked the knowledge or emotional depth to understand.

"Let's start over again!" He blurted out.

He really wished there was a director to call cut so he could redo this scene. He always found comfort in being able to make the scene perfect. A different take and he could craft reality to his imagination. He assumed if she was the actress all of her dramatics led him to believe she would do that.

"Impossible" Juvia announced while she stood up.

A lump that Gray could not swallow lodge itself in his throat.

"Juvia simply cannot bring herself to harm you…" She admitted, eyes downcast blush still covering her face and spread down her body.

"Huh?" Gray was taken back. "You're admitting you can't beat me?"

He leaned towards the girl and tried to understand what the girl was trying to get at. He knew that he was one of the top actors in the industry, but this interaction definitely wasn't showcasing those talents. His icy precision definitely wasn't here.

"Juvia is stronger than Lucy. Juvia will be able to protect you" Juvia confessed. She tried to get him to see the potential they had together.

"Protect?" Gray tried to understand her cryptic comments. "Why protect me?"

He shook his head and narrowed his eyes at the drenched blunette. Gray knew his position at the top was secured. He hadn't even reached his stride yet not even reached his prime.

"B-Because… I-I… L-Lov…" Juvia began her love confession. She could not lie to him or herself anymore.

Wiping his face, Gray grumbled, "It's really starting to pour, isn't it?" The rain seemed to only increase since the beginning of their interactions.

"Juvia is irritated!" She squealed. It was frustrating enough to openly confess her feelings after the brutal humiliation she had face and he wasn't even paying attention. A woman's words of love should be at least acknowledge before refusal.

"Geez, the rain's so depressing." He muttered the offhanded comment. He stood there just feeling the pelts of rain against his bare skin.

Depressing

That word echoed like the song had. Juvia had thought he was different. She had assumed he had felt a fraction of what she had. She felt like a fool. Her depression flooded her, her legs gave out. Juvia was on the ground again. She kept finding herself kneeling in his presence.

The impact of her hitting ground startled Gray. He snapped towards her and asked, "What's the matter?"

Her hands trembled. Her lips trembled. She sobbed, "This man… Is the same as all the others! You're all the same!" She ended screaming.

She was on her feet in a flash. Steam rolled off her body. Her will to prove her naysayers wrong gave her the power to stand. She had to remind herself of her goal. Her revenge was all she needed.

"What?" Gray was not used to emotions being changed so easily. Juvia was a riptide that kept pulling him under. He didn't believe someone could exist constantly with these fluctuating emotions. He was in awe of her range.

"Juvia does not need love anymore!" She shrieked and ran away not looking at where she went.

Gray was not sure how to handle the rage and hurt. She seemed in a fitful place that he could not reach her.

"I don't need love…" She continued louder than before. "I don't need that at all!"

Gray tried to catch up to her but when he almost had her she pushed him away sending him a couple of feet away from her.

She was trapped in the past. She could only think about how everyone called her depressing and didn't want to spend time with her. Juvia remembered all the lamentations of being subject to her very presence. All the times Juvia had overhead the regrets of classmates Her teru teru bozu dolls she sewed by hand in attempt to keep her depression at bay. All of the times she pricked her fingers trying to sew the little dolls by hand till they were spotted with the dark crimson of her blood. All the times her gifts of those lovely crafted dolls were refused and trashed. She had made so many little dolls that sewing became second nature to her. Thoughts of happy couples rubbing their happiness in the face of her loneliness. All the times when she could only watch human interactions, observing in her solitude. She remembered the night Bora had crushed her love. She remembered the chants of the song.

"After all, Juvia is merely a depressing rain-woman! But Juvia will become a star. Juvia will not give in again." That dark wrath consumed her.

Gray was still trying to right himself. They were very close to the railing. He had grabbed on to stop sliding.

"DIE!" Juvia screamed as she sprung at him. Her command wasn't as much as to him as the feelings he had stirred. This attraction need to be snuffed out.

On muscle memory alone, he went into a fight stance and landed a quick succession of hits. He didn't see her gender only that he couldn't lose to an attacker. Threats of death sent him to a dark place. He was unaware the power behind his movement. Each blow stunned Juvia and pushed her further back. She barely registered that her back had hit the railing. The stomach churning sensation of the fall consumed her. Stomach dropped and eye closed as it dawn that she didn't have the time to right herself. She pondered the irony of dying by falling. She would truly become one in she fell just like the rain. She admitted that in this love story the prince had slain the evil witch, she couldn't consider herself a queen anymore. She accepted her fate.

A strong hand latched onto her wrist and pulled her back from the brink. Her wrist never felt so small before with the ease the hand and encompassed it. Shock. Juvia opened her eyes and met dark blue eyes filled with such care and worry.

"Don't let go of my hand!" Gray commanded. He didn't want Juvia to fight him. Someone else could not die because of him. "I'm not letting you fall!" He continued saying the words a loud as a promise to both him and her.

Gray slowly pulled her towards him. He lifted her up into his arms bridal style, his muscles barely strained to hold her weight. It comforted him to know she was safe. He made sure not hold onto her exposed skin. It took a great deal of willpower not to notice her face warm against his cool skin and the hot puffs of her breath that tickled his collar bone.

"Why did you save Juvia?" She asked. He barely heard it over the rain his own racing heart-rate.

"Beats me." He lied.

Gray could not admit his fear of death. And he could not be so callous to say that he didn't want his image ruined by manslaughter. He walked over to the bench and laid her down.

"Anyway, get some sleep." The ordered was barked to hide his concern as he sat down on the ground next bench. When he noticed no reply he queried, "So, finally cooled down?"

Tears, happy tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Right before Juvia shed the first one, the bright sun broke through the clouds. Bright and blinding, her eyes closed unaccustomed to the light. She hesitantly cracked one open, slowly adjusting to the sun.

"Huh. The rain has stopped." Gray noted trying to fill the silence. He was not used to Juvia not responding to him. "Oh, it's finally clearing up." He continued his now one-side conversation.

It wasn't just the sun's light that broke through.

"These are … clear skies…" She softly spoke. "I've never seen them before…" Juvia wasn't talking just about the weather. In that moment, she didn't feel the overwhelming depression that had gnawed on her entire life. In the shock of being pulled from brink of death by the compassion of another soul, she felt a weird comforting calm.

"Really?" Gray asked. Turn to look at her. He couldn't fathom someone who literally hadn't seen clear skies before. But seeing as he had almost killed the poor woman he went along with it. "Nice,huh? Clear skies are great."

Birds flew overhead. This sign of life and companionship caused another wave of happy tears to fill her eyes.

Juvia responded to Gray, "Yes… They're beautiful, truly…"

Trying to lighten the mood with humor Gray turned to Juvia with a cheeky smile and asked, "So, up for round 2?"

He figured if he could handle the improvisation of this so proclaimed Rain Woman, he would be up for any role Loke brought from the request board.

Juvia was positive her heart leapt from her chest. Happiness and love filled her. She had never felt this serenity. System reboot had initiated a restart. The last thing Juvia could think about was how happy her star-crossed icy prince had made her. Even if it lasted only this moment. Juvia then proceeded to blackout.

A weird stillness filled the rooftop garden. The flowers sparkled with rainbows and light bounced against the puddles. And Gray grew anxious.

"Hey! What's the matter?" He asked after her.

When Gray hopped up on the bench crouching over Juvia.

"Hang in there! Hey! Hey!" Gray frantically called after the now sleeping beauty.

He picked her up bridal style again. Gray was sure it was the safest method of carrying the now comatose blunette. Barely giving his discarded shirt a thought he left the roof. He used his foot to open the French door, making sure it didn't touch Juvia. He glided across the wooden floor to the elevator and pushed the down arrow. He tried not to shift his weight as he waited. His body was just filled with weird sensations. He felt drawn, and he knew that he couldn't let another person get close like that. It was safer for everyone. Gray felt that fate might have punished the both for the liberty he had taken with her. Just the thought of that perfect slice he had felt when he squeezed. It brought a strange heat, he needed an ice bath, and he needed to drown himself in snow cones. He hated heat and fire and for the first time he had felt that… He let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding when the elevator opened. He carefully boarded and pressed the level for the infirmary. Gray prayed that he didn't run into either Natsu or Loke on his way there. One would want attack without thought of the cargo he carried the other would interrogate him worse than the Spanish Inquisition. The soft chime and the gentle shift signaled Gray that he arrived at his desired floor. Grimacing, he stepped out into the hallway. This floor was stark white. Sterile described it perfectly. Lady luck seemed to favor him, the hallway was clear and silent. He carefully trekked down the winding corridors to Porlyusica's office. The door was cracked open and he could hear the soft click of her computer keys and rustling of papers.

Gray cleared his throat to gain the attention of the pink haired elderly woman. Her turn to face him, expression permanently displeased. Her pink hair was kept out the way with a tight bun. The strangest thing about her was instead of the normal white doctor's coat she had dyed her a dark crimson. It was unsettling to see the doctor dressed in the color of dried blood, it stood out against the white of the rest of her floor.

"Ah, she's a guest of Lucy's. She passed out and needs attention." Gray stated. He never felt so awkward before.

"Put her on the bed there." Porlyusica ordered. She hated when she had extra company, usually it was quiet and peaceful.

She began a quick examination of the girl. She eyed the fact that both Gray and Lucy's friend were drenched.

"Can I use your phone to call to Mira to find Lucy? I'm sure she worried." He asked the terrify doctor.

Porlyusica agreed with a wave of her hand towards the phone. She preferred to limit her human interactions. Gray bounded over the desk and punched in the extension of phone behind the bar in the lobby. He shifted his weight and fumbled with his belt as he waited. The dial tone never sounded so mocking before.

"Hello, Porlyusica, this is an unexpected call." Mirajane's melodic voice came through the receiver.

Gray cleared his throat and answered, "Mira, It's Gray."

"Ah, so it's not our resident Dragon lady."

"Yeah. Quick question. Do you know if Lucy is in?" He asked he could swear his nerves slipped into his tone. Why couldn't he control himself?

"She is. She returned after her casting call. She has been looking for her new friend she brought with her."

"About that. Could you tell her that … um… Ju-Juvia is in the infirmary." He absently fiddled with the elastic of his black boxer-briefs to reduce the anxiety he felt.

"The infirmary?!"

"Nothing serious, she just passed out. She probably didn't get enough to eat or something silly like that?" He tried to diffuse the tension he felt.

"I will tell Lucy. She has been worried. She'll be there in a little bit."

"Thanks, Mira." Gray ended confidence finally returning to his voice.

"Happy to help."

Gray sighed he fussed with his damp hair as he waited. It felt like eternity. Time was not moving normally. The ease that greeted him when the Lucy entered the room didn't last long as Natsu followed by little Happy followed.

"Gray! What happened?" Lucy demanded eyes glued on Juvia's sleeping body.

"She passed out." Gray answered staying as vague as possible.

"GRAY! WHERE ARE YOUR CLOTHES?!" Lucy screamed pointing at him.

He winced when he looked down to find he was down to only his black boxer-briefs. This did not look good, he had a darkening bruise on his cheeks, lacked clothes, and brought in a non-responsive woman. This was a flashing neon sign of danger.

"The Stripper must have done something really bad." Natsu chided. The pink hair ruffian flashed a fanged smile in Gray's direction. "Am I right little buddy?"

The small blue haired boy glued to Natsu wore a school uniform that someone matched his hair with a green collar and white tie. He cheered and saluted his response, black eyes misting into a 50 yard stare, "Aye, Sir!"

"Wrong as usual, Flame-brain." Gray barely answered not sure if Natsu's question deserved a response. But back and forth was familiar and comforting.

"Porlyusica, Is she going to be okay?" Lucy asked hovering over the bed.

The doctor gave an eye roll but answered, "She just needs a little rest. She appears to be in shock. She should be awake in about an hour."

"Thank you. That means she should still make her meeting." Lucy cheered.

"Meeting?" Gray asked Lucy unwanted interest and concern coated his tone.

"Juvia has a meeting with Master Makarov about join Fairy Tail. I am so excited I think she will be a perfect fit here. Natsu remember the girl I was talking about that made me run into you. This is her. By the power of celestial spirits, I met her again. It's just stellar that I managed to find her and get her an introduction." Lucy rambled talking more with Natsu and Happy who hung out to her every word.

"Join Fairy Tail" Gray muttered. He stared at the Rain Woman and he knew his life would never be normal again.

Normally Gray would have laughed off that fortune he got a couple weeks ago but the words haunted him as he couldn't look away for the blunette tucked into the hospital bed.

You will get an unexpected visitor. The stars point to trouble with water and women

Gray Fullbuster would swear on his most holy item his heirloom necklace that his heart didn't skip a beat just then. Moreover, Gray Fullbuster would never admit that it would be a lie.

Author's Notes

What better activity than binge writing on a Friday night and into the twilight hours of Saturday morning? I actually updated a lot faster than I thought I would. This probably riddled with errors but I really want share. I want post this right away. Editing is also not going to happen because I don't trust eyes at this point. I am not sure how everyone is going to take the fact that I kept Juvia's and Gray's dialogue from the subbed anime as close as I could. But I tried something different with an AU Happy. After seeing humanoid (save for almost cat ears in her hair) Carla, school boy Happy seems too cute. This means all the Exceeds will be human …. even *gasp* Nichiya. Also casting call is similar to Skip Beat because I would have no clue what else it could be. I am not theatrical. I hope people are enjoying this. I hope there was enough of a taste of Gruvia goodness to reward you for continuing reading. I am going to try and PM responses to kind souls that reviewed. I just didn't want to till I had this chapter completed. I am trying to match characterizations but I am no Troll Mashima. This may or not be just word vomit. Feel free to review, flame, or even lurk. Critics are welcome. No pressure, comments aren't necessary. All I hope is that at least one person cracks a smile. This may all be the ramblings of an idle brain...

Side note: Cold War Kids vibes well with my Gruvia writing. At least it helped write like 16 pages. I am surprised at my word count.

But listen to Royal Blue to get the kind of vibe I was feeling for their meeting. It inspired the title of this chapter.