Happy Friday! We've got more of a drabble than a chapter, but I couldn't leave this loose end hanging. Sorry it's so short. I was going to combine it with next week's (also short) chapter, but I haven't had time to write lately, so bear with me while I play catch up. :)
darling spider: It's all good. Breathe. ;) If you're looking for more twists and upsets of the status quo, stay tuned. Remember in chapter 1 when I mentioned Toby's little crush on Jenny Realight? At first, I was only joking, but I kind of like the idea, because how crazy would that be?
Waffels: Wow! You have no idea how thrilled I was to come back to an inbox full of comments from you. Completely blew me away. I really appreciate all the support. :) Anyways, that's so funny; that's actually the perfect soundtrack for last chapter.
- K. Chandler
It was well past midnight. The owner of the café finally kicked Lyon and Juvia out so he and his staff could go home.
Juvia had protested, but Lyon had insisted on walking her back to Fairy Hills, despite it being out of his way.
"Thank you for tonight, Juvia."
Juvia smiled. "Juvia doesn't mind at all. Lyon is a good friend. Juvia only hopes he considers her one as well."
"Of course," he said.
"Then Lyon should know that he can always confide in Juvia. Juvia brings Lyon her problems. Lyon should be able to do the same."
"Thank you, all the same. Good night, Juvie."
He was calling her that again, but Juvia didn't correct him. "See you soon, next time you're in Magnolia," she said instead.
Juvia reached in her bag for her keys. Her fingers brushed against something soft. She had forgotten to take it out of her bag yesterday.
It was now or never.
"Lyon, wait!"
"What's the matter?"
"Juvia got this for you," she said. From her bag, Juvia pulled the royal blue scarf. She held it out to him, suddenly feeling a little shy. Her heart was pounding and her mouth felt a little dry. "Do you… like it?"
Lyon's eyes widened as he accepted the gift, adjusting it around his neck and throwing one end over his shoulder as he had the day before.
A wide smile crossed his face. "I love it."
Did Lyon just get friend-zoned? Or does the fact that she totally bought him a scarf (that's got to be symbolic somehow, right?) mean there's still hope?
Keep in mind that Mazeverse Lyon isn't actively pursuing Juvia here, which I think suits him better than the whole desperate thing he initially pulls in canon. Just like in canon, it demonstrates that Lyon's smart enough to read the futility of his situation, genuinely cares about Juvia's happiness and has the self-control to do the right thing. This is, arguably worse, since helping Juvia (and not taking advantage of her trust by sabotaging her) has got to be bittersweet for him. He gets to spend time with her and help give her away to somebody else (Gray). That has to hurt.
Next time, in the final chapter of [Mazeverse] Anniversary: Special, Just Because, Gray opens Juvia's gift: "Someone likes you!" chirped Happy.
Stop back next Friday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.