Author's Note: Here's the next chapter for you guys and gals! As always looking forward to any reviews you may have. Enjoy Chapter 7!
Chapter 7
Gray was wondering what Loke had on his mind, ever since they saw each other when he came back there was this look of glee on his face. It sort of creeped him out a bit since he didn't change that look even after he took him away from the booth. Which also reminded him of what happened to Lucy, she seemed so frustrated when he looked at her. If there was someone he could ask then Loke was the man, only if he could lose the look then Gray could be comfortable.
"Alright man, you dragged me away from the girls now tell me what's going on. Plus get rid of that weird face, it's bugging me." Gray said when the two former partners made it to their own private table.
"I can't get rid of sexy Gray. It's both a gift and a curse." Loke said in his own dramatic way and Gray smirked at him.
"Whatever, I'm sure I could rival you any day. Besides I want to know what's going on and what's up with Luce. She looked pretty pissed and not the usual "flame breath ate all her food" pissed either." At this point, Loke took on a Cheshire grin as he looked at his wing-man.
"That's the thing I wanted to tell you. She's pissed because of Juvia!" The spirit had such a proud smile on his face, although Gray was still lost in how that had to do with anything.
"So? I assume she denied being her rival and was just aggravated when Juvia finally left, right?" Gray knew this song and dance; he'd be lying if it didn't hurt him a little every time Lucy said she didn't like him in that way.
"You'd think that wouldn't you, but she did the complete opposite!" The joy he was giving off was immense. Sure he didn't have anything against Juvia at all, but he didn't enjoy watching his master put herself down ever time she was confronted by the water mage.
"What do you mean?" Gray was his regular self on the outside, but on the inside he was genuinely shocked. What could have Lucy done that was greatly different.
"This may actually brighten your day" Loke said looking right at Gray, prepared to spot any difference.
FLASHBACK
Barely a couple of minutes had passed since Gray left with Levy to the library, when the water mage had marched her way towards Lucy. Loke became aware of how her attention had gone from him to her as soon as Lucy replied to him. Knowing what Juvia would say, Loke kept silent waiting for the same routine between her and his master to be over.
"Hey Juvia, what brings you over?" Lucy said to her, although Loke knew that they both know the answer to that.
"Juvia will not stand around and have Love Rival close to Juvia's Gray-sama." And there's the reason. Loke knew she was a nice person, but this obsession with Gray puts a damper on his opinion of her sometimes. This being one of those times.
"Why are you worried? Loke and Levy were here with us, so there's no reason to be on the look out." Lucy replied in her usual tone, but Loke started noticing how some of her features started to change.
Lucy had a light-hearted or nervous look to her when she talked about Gray with Juvia and all that Love Rival business, but now she looked different. Her eyes looked sharp as if she was glaring at the water mage, the smile she usually wore in this situation wasn't there and she began to tap her fingers in an impatient manner. Something was going on with her and Loke couldn't tell what it was.
"Juvia needs not worry about Levy-san, she sees her as no threat to Juvia. Love Rival is the only threat to Juvia's quest for Gray-sama's heart." There was a line to be drawn when it came to this matter and in Loke's opinion she was ready to cross it.
He was about to stand up and defend his master, but Lucy held his arm down and shook her head signaling to the spirit to not do anything. He didn't understand what she was doing, but agreed to sit there for now.
"How could I be the only threat to you, if I may ask? Gray just left with Levy not long ago and she's another pretty girl too." The lion spirit could tell that Lucy felt bad for bringing Levy up in the conversation, but he had a feeling that she was wanting to make a point.
"Juvia is not very worried about Levy-san since Juvia knows that you are her true rival." This brought a question to Loke's mind. She's protective of Gray, but why is Lucy her real rival versus the other girls here?
"Oh? Then on what basis can you say that I'm your true rival Juvia? I can't recall what I actually did to have you think that way of me." Lucy was beginning to look even more impatient and was close to being actually angry with Juvia.
"Juvia has her own basis as to why and knows how Love Rival will deny her that she is interested in Gray-sama." Juvia crossed her arms, standing strong with her words and yet Loke had a strange assurance that things have just gone over the deep end.
"So you think that I'll deny liking Gray, like I always do and just have you come back to claim me as your number one rival?!" Lucy was truly angry, as in she was fuming with anger towards the water mage.
"Yes Juvia does think so. You may deny it, but Juvia knows that it is all a ruse to drop Juvia's guard so Love Rival could take Gray-sama for herself." Lucy stood up abruptly her hands on the table and a no nonsense look plastered on her face.
"Fine Juvia, I'm tired of denying something that isn't true anymore. I was trying to make peace with you, while I hurt myself and my chances with Gray for it. But if you think that I'll be your rival after denying it so many times then fine!" Loke was truly astounded at how Lucy was being, was she really going to do what he thought she was about to do?
"So you were after Juvia's Gray-sama!" Juvia pointed an accusing finger at Lucy who still wasn't about to back down from this. The spirit knew that for Lucy it was all or nothing, hopefully she chooses all.
"I tried to make peace, but since you didn't want that then I'll come clean. I like Gray and I'm done claiming that I don't for you Juvia. I'm your Love Rival and I won't back down." A great sense of pride swelled in Loke and if he were to guess it, then it went for all of her spirits too. Especially to Aquarius out of all.
"Juvia knew it and now Juvia will do everything in her power to protect what is hers!" With that she huffed and stormed away, her jealous rage already steaming from her body as she went.
It was some time later that Lucy had calmed down enough to know what she had done and even more so when she would stop becoming angry when she thought of Juvia. This kept up until Loke spotted Gray and Levy making their way to them.
END FLASHBACK
"So Lucy actually stood up to Juvia?" Gray was shocked to say the least of what he had heard and Loke smiled when he noticed the soft smile that formed on Gray's face.
"Can't you see, Lucy's into you too. Maybe you should go talk to her, you never know what might happen." Loke's smile was still present as the thought of his best friend since he was in the guild and his master finally coming together.
"That's a solid point Loke, but if I know how Lucy is then it'll be a bit more complicated than that." Gray said as he leaned back in his seat and Loke gave an exasperated sigh.
"Now what man? This is a golden opportunity for you and yet your hesitating."
"Lucy put herself up there, meaning she is willing to prove to Juvia that she's better. I even think that my opinion would hardly dis-sway her from proving herself." That opened Loke's eyes to see beyond the picture, so it seems that Gray really did know Lucy.
He knew his master was a strong young lady and being raised as an heiress has also left her with a sense of pride. Loke hadn't thought of that before, she would truly want to prove herself and that pride of hers wouldn't allow her to back down so easily. He had to hand it to Gray for figuring that one out.
"That's true, but hey it's just a part of Lucy that we all love right?" Loke said although he noticed how Gray slightly blushed when he said 'love'. His friend truly didn't know how to deal with sentimental stuff.
"Uh...yeah, yeah...besides it's best to see how this play's out, just in case things chan-" Gray couldn't finish his sentence as two arms wrapped themselves aorund his neck and in utter surprise, he jerked in his seat. He was prepared to get rid of them and fight back when he heard a cute giggle beside his head.
Right next to him was Cana, her head on his shoulder as she hugged him from behind all the while Loke stared at her confused. Something didn't seem right with her, given that he thinks that every time he catches her drink but this time it was different. He had this feeling about it, but nothing came to mind on what was wrong, other than her being super close to Gray.
"There you are Gray, I've been looking for you." Cana whispered into his hear with such a seductive way that sent a tingle go right through his spine. The ice mage, by way of being conditioned to Cana's behavior, knew she was drunk, but the smell of alcohol was minor.
That surprised Gray the most, she had the scent of it but it wasn't major as he would suspect. It was closely enough to where Elfman was long gone drunk, which wasn't a lot for such a big man. Meaning that Cana was in her right mind more or less, so she was in control of her actions.
"Hey Cana, so why were you looking for me?" He had to keep his cool, things could go south very fast with a slightly sober Cana if he didn't play his cards right.
"Thought we could hang out like we used to." She replied keeping her arms still around his neck.
"If you're looking for a drinking buddy, then count me out. Last time I was that, I found myself asleep on my roof with the rain waking me up." Gray hated that day, but could hardly remember what happened after his twenty-fourth mug the night before.
"Don't be such a grump about that, you helped me win a lot of Jewel that night so there's no harm done drinking with me plus I helped you get over the hang over." She then climbed over the seat and as she did earlier, latched herself to Gray's arm.
"uh..."Well hi Loke how are you?"...Oh I'm doing fine Cana thanks for asking, so how are you?..."Oh you know just ignoring you and getting all up on the Gray train, destination Angry Loke Town"." Gray sweat dropped at Loke's personal commentary, however Cana looked at him as another giggle escaped her lips.
"It's not that I'm ignoring you Loke, it's just that Gray has most of my attention right now." Cana replied making Loke cross his arms having a sharp glare directed towards Gray at the moment.
"Oh really, Gray care to explain this to me?" Loke knew Gray was a good guy, but this thing happening between them was setting off a few alarms in his head to be good.
"Well I...uh... the thing is...umm she's just..." Gray was struggling to come up with an answer and gave in letting out a defeated sigh, "To be honest, I have no way of putting this into words." Loke was still glaring at him, he believed him sure but that wasn't going to suffice as an answer for him.
"Don't worry about it Gray, I'll explain it to him." Cana spoke up, but before he could sigh in relief she quickly pecked him on the cheek, but slow enough for Loke to embed it into his mind.
"W-What was t-"
"Hey Gray can you come here please!" Mira's voice had been a god send for Gray at that moment, providing him a chance to escape.
"I-I'm gonna go and s-see what Mira needs," Gray replied confused and a bit in shock, "Although I would've preferred to stay at your side Cana, but don't worry we be together soon." The return of the beautified Gray said as she began to blush, although to Loke's eyes she seemed to blush out of random looking at the retreating figure of Gray.
"Something's going on here..." Loke thought as Cana turned around and looked at him with a serious expression.
"Now Loke you better listen carefully because I'm not repeating myself." Cana began as she had immediately peaked Loke's curiosity with such a commanding tone.
"Hey Mira, what do you need me for?" Gray said as he finally made his way past his fellow guild mates, who he's noticed kept looking at him as he walked past.
"Oh it's not just me who needs you, it's us." She said in her ever so sweet tone, but Gray was confused until he noticed the red head sitting down at the table Mira was serving a drink to.
Gray may had thought that Mira's calling was a god send, but he takes it all back now. It wasn't that anymore; she didn't save him from hell, she brought him there taking him away from a nightmare. He had just remembered that he had to give his thought on what Mira did for him earlier that day.
"So tell us Gray, what do you think of Mira's actions? I've been waiting to hear since Loke said he was "only borrowing you for a bit"." Erza said as she looked up at the ice mage who was secretly shaking on the inside.
"You can do this Gray, just relax a bit. It's not like you're going to get beaten to a pulp for picking one side or dealing with a crying demon if you pick the other, right?" Even in Gray's thoughts there was little help to escape the least desirable outcomes.
"You know I don't really mind that Mira did that for me," A victorious smile formed on Mira's face as Erza gripped her gauntlet tightly, suppressing a growl that was about to escape her throat, "but you could have just told me too Mira, I don't like being treated like a baby." Erza's grip lessened and she calmed down a bit.
Gray knew he opted for the in between, but hey it was the safest route to take and he didn't need a beating on what he can consider to be a pretty good day. Besides the weird questions and Cana's sudden advances that is.
"That's quite alright with me, how about you Erza?" Mira was pushing Erza's buttons in the most discrete way possible and the red head was not enjoying it one bit. She's trying to force Erza's hand and if that's what she wants then it's what she'll get.
"Yes I'm fine with it. You should get going Mira, looks like you have a few tables that are calling on you" Erza said, a small smirk forming on her lips as Mira bid them good bye and that left Gray standing alone next to Erza's booth. "Sit down Gray"
He immediately complied, expecting so many things to come from Erza and yet he was calm for some unknown reason. Usually he was at the ready to tense up, but he felt quite relaxed given his position of being berated by Erza.
"Loke said for a bit, which to me was around the lines of a few minutes," She began and Gray was still as calm as ever which he found odd, "so do you care to tell me why you weren't back after a couple of hours." Explaining things was something he'd been doing all day, so he went on to tell Erza the things that mattered since Loke took him away.
"That's about it and I'm sure you saw me come through the door with Levy" Gray said and a small tick mark appeared on Erza's head remembering just how close the two were.
"Oh I remember," Gray was slightly cautious since Erza sounded to be restraining some anger, "but for the most part you owe me."
"Hold on, owe you? What could I possibly owe you?" Gray knew better than to question Erza, but sometimes he couldn't help to do so on certain occasions.
"For making me wait for such a long period of time, you are going to pay me back by spending some time with me understand?" Erza explained to him and to her this would be a good opportunity to take the lead in her personal war with Mira.
"Seriously, I just got back not an hour ago..." Gray would have continued his sentence if it weren't for the questioning glare he was getting from Erza that stopped him, "On second thought maybe getting a little more wouldn't be so bad."
"Great let's get going, the days almost done" She said as Gray got up and made his way towards the door, but she quickly grabbed a random guild mates untouched drink and chugged all of its contents down. "Nothing wrong with some liquid courage, right?"
At another part of the guild, two feminine figures we're speaking to each other in hushed tones making sure no one would hear them. Even in the rowdy guild, discrete was what they needed to be. It's not easy keeping things secret if one person over hears their plan.
"Looks like we've got a little competition" Said one who was sitting by herself at the furthest part of the guild.
"Oh and who could they be?" The other asked making sure to act as if she were just idly sitting down behind her companion's booth, her back to hers.
"It appears our own blonde beauty and little bookworm have teamed up." She replied casually spinning her finger around her mug's rim.
"Isn't that cute, it's too bad their only going to be met with disappointment. Looks like we're going to deal with six people in total now, but that's alright we can still win."
"Yup, you and me to the end."
