AN: You guys are just so amazing that i want to cry :') This chapter took ages because it was just so hard to write for some reason :p Im so nervous right now!
I hope you dont hate this chapter even though it doesnt have... :/
Chapter 10- The Finale
Juvia ached, her whole body needed to be stretched out and soaked in warmth. Gray had been the most annoying person to share a bed with. If he wasn't crushing her up against him, he was flinging his limbs around and rolling about. She had spent most of the night dodging him and his occasional attempts to grope her.
Then there was the four times he had actually shoved her out of the bed. After the fourth hard landing, Juvia had just decided to stay on the floor, but of course Gray sleepily complained about that too and so she had reluctantly hopped back under the covers with him.
She hoped he wasn't always like this when he slept, she hoped it was just because of the alcohol or something; she didn't want to have to put up with this in the future...
Her eyes widened and she mentally slapped herself for even thinking that they would be sleeping together again.
Gray-sama seems to like Juvia though…and he is attracted to her, so maybe…
She smiled but it quickly fell from her face as her worries from the night before rolled in again. What was going to happen today? How was he going to act?
Juvia sat up slowly in the bed and glanced over at Gray, noticing the blankets were pooled down around his hips. He was on his stomach, his arm thrown out over her waist and his face pressing into the mattress near her hip.
He was drooling a little and she watched him fondly for a moment before deciding it would be best for her to just leave, he could come and find her later if he wanted to talk to her, she would let him lead the situation because she honestly didn't have the energy to even think.
She tried to lift his arm away from her, but he tightened his hold and moved closer to her. She sighed and rolled her eyes
"What to do with you, Gray-sama…" she whispered, her gaze gliding over his toned back as she searched her mind for a solution.
She then shrugged to herself and reached out her hand to rest it on his warm shoulder blade. She slid her hand slowly down him, with her fingers soon curving around his side. Gray squirmed, moving away from her slightly as she headed towards his lower abdomen. She bit her lip to hold back her laughter. He squirmed more and then rolled away from her completely, removing his arm from around her and allowing her to escape.
She tiptoed away from the bed and headed back into the hallway, quickly finding Gray's small and tidy bathroom and using it before sneaking into the kitchen and plucking her coat up from the floor and slinging it over her arm. It was just after she had stooped to pick up her black heels that a very groggy ice mage appeared.
"Juvia?" Gray mumbled, leaning against the bench in the kitchen, "What are you doing here?"
He massaged his throbbing temples and peered sleepily at her, taking in the way she was completely still and watching him like she had been caught doing something bad. Her blue hair was in disarray and she was bent over, having just picked up her shoe.
Huh, he thought with tired amusement, it almost looks like she was sneaking away after…
Abruptly he was drenched by adrenaline, his eyes flew open wide and, at least for now, he lost awareness of his headache as certain images flashed across his mind's eye.
Juvia being pressed against the wall by his body. Juvia on the couch, his hand on her breast. Juvia's cleavage as he held her from behind.
Shit…We didn't…did we?
"Good morning, Gray-sama," she said in a quiet, shaky voice, averting her gaze.
"Uh…hi…" he awkwardly rubbed his hand through his messy dark hair, "Look, Juvia…-"
She tensed, here it comes, she thought despondently.
"-I'm not exactly sure what, uh, happened last night…"
Her blue eyes flew up to meet his.
"Yeah," he continued uncomfortably, "Um…I remember bits and pieces, would you mind…filling me in?"
She sighed and looked back down to her heels.
She was slipping one on when she stated, "You were drunk, Gray-sama and you were very annoying."
"What!" he exclaimed in surprise, "Me, annoying? You thought I was annoying?"
She frowned, "Isn't that what Juvia just said?"
He laughed softly; shaking his head in amusement at the idea that Juvia, the woman who often openly admitted her adoration and love for him, thought he was annoying.
Juvia yawned and then told him, "Juvia had a very hard time dealing with Gray-sama."
He winced, "I'm sorry Juvia, I hope I, uh, didn't cause you too many problems."
She stretched and straightened up, balancing on her one high heel clad foot. He couldn't help but notice the way her motions pushed her chest out. His hands itched to reach out to her.
"Juvia didn't mind too much," she sighed tiredly, waving a dismissive hand, "Gray-sama was also very cute."
He blushed and hated himself for it.
Juvia glanced over at him and smiled shyly, causing his stomach to flip flop inside and his heart to jump erratically.
"You were a rather interesting drunk, Gray-sama," she said warmly.
He raised an eyebrow, "Oh yeah? What did I do?"
She bit her lip, looked away for a second and turned pink as she turned back to him.
"You…" she started hesitantly, then she shook her head, "Never mind, you were drunk, Gray-sama, your actions hold no meaning for me."
He flinched, "Did I get a bit handsy with you, Juvia?"
He wondered what she would say, he remembered very clearly some parts of the night…
"A bit," she answered eventually and he was mildly relieved by the fact she didn't lie to him and that she had stopped him from acting rashly.
Then she yawned again, "You also kicked Juvia out of the bed a couple of times."
She froze, having realised she had let slip something she hadn't been going to reveal. She didn't want him to think she had acted inappropriately with him while he was asleep or anything.
"We…uh, we shared a bed then?" he hesitantly questioned while wishing he had been more alert at the time.
She nibbled on her lower lip uncertainly and then responded, "You insisted on it, Gray-sama."
"I did?" his eyes were huge with his surprise.
His tone seemed to annoy the blue haired woman however and she snapped, "It's not so hard to believe. Are you doubting, Juvia?"
He held his hands up in surrender, wincing as his head pounded.
"No, of course not!" he told her.
She huffed, "Good, it's like Juvia said, Gray-sama was very annoying and Juvia was kept up for most of the night!"
Gray felt his body heat as he couldn't help but wish something else he could do would keep her up all night.
"I'm sorry," he said sheepishly again, "No wonder you're so tired."
She sighed and rubbed her eyes, "Juvia doesn't mind looking after Gray-sama even after he does stupid things and is annoying to her."
"Oh…" muttered Gray, unsure if he should be offended or touched by her statement.
Juvia stretched out her arms again and rolled her shoulders before taking a deep breath and bending over to put her other shoe on. Heavy guilt invaded Gray's body and weighed him down. It was his fault that she was so exhausted; he shouldn't have let himself drink so much and he shouldn't have been such a burden on her. He didn't deserve to have such a caring woman around.
Something inside him clicked on then, he realised he want to care for Juvia as much as she cared for him, she always put his needs before her own and was always being so thoughtful. Yes, he now wanted and needed to do the same for her.
The emotion heating his chest wasn't something he was completely familiar with but it told him that he should start by letting Juvia get some more rest.
"Juvia," he said quietly, "You should go."
Her blue eyes grew large and her mouth fell open slightly as hurt flickered across her face.
Ah shit, I probably should've phrased that better.
"Uh, w-what I mean is-" he stuttered, stepping unsteadily forward.
The water mage straightened up again and held a hand up, "No, Juvia understands, Gray-sama doesn't need or want Juvia around anymore."
He sighed loudly and walked waveringly towards her. He tripped and ended up tackling her to the floor.
"Gray-sama," Juvia complained from beneath his hard body.
Said hard body positively came alive at the feel of her soft curves and Gray mentally cursed himself. He was a second away from scrambling away from her when his door was flung open. Both Gray and Juvia's wide eyes shot to the tall figure in the doorway that was looking at them with surprise to match.
"Lyon?" questioned Gray in disbelief, "What the hell are you doing here?"
Lyon expression abruptly became a scowl as he got over his shock and stepped forward, yanking Gray away from Juvia and causing him to stumble back a few steps.
"I came to demand you tell me what your intentions towards Juvia-chan are, and it seems I came just in time. Gray, I'm outraged-"
"Outraged?" Gray repeated, his eyebrows drawn down together in anger.
Lyon quickly reached down and scooped Juvia up.
"Juvia-chan!" he declared, "I'll save you from Gray's unwanted advances."
"What!?" Gray yelled indignantly, "What the hell are you talking about?"
Juvia squirmed in Lyon's arms until he put her down, then she backed up against the wall near the door and glanced back and forth between the two ice mages, feeling a headache grow between her temples.
"It's clear to me you were about to take advantage of my lovely Juvia-chan!" announced Lyon, dropping into a fighting stance, "I'll not let you abuse her!"
Hot rage bubbled up inside Gray and clenched his fists, making him see nothing but his rival. He took a fighting stance as well.
"I was not taking advantage of her!" he hissed.
"I find that entirely unconvincing," retorted Lyon as he threw a punch, "You were all over her!"
Gray blocked it and yelled, "Because I fell over! It was an accident!"
"Why was she even here? Did you kidnap her?" Lyon demanded, spinning and then swinging once again.
"No! Why would I want to do that?" Gray defended.
He would never admit it, but the idea of kidnapping Juvia did appeal to him…
"So you're saying you don't want Juvia?" Lyon paused, his sharp gaze piercing Gray.
"What!"
"You don't want Juvia!" declared Lyon triumphantly, "I'll make her mine and give her all the love she deserves!"
The older ice mage turned to look towards where Juvia was and Gray used that moment to land a solid punch that brought the man down.
"I do want Juvia," said Gray fiercely, "She's mine and you can't have her."
Lyon groaned and Gray blinked in surprise that he had actually managed to bring down his old rival so fast. He wondered briefly if it had anything to do with the powerful emotions flowing through his veins.
Oh shit.
He realised then that he had just declared that he wanted Juvia, he first turned pale and then a brilliant red crept up his neck and coloured his cheeks. He slowly turned to look at the water mage.
She wasn't there.
"What!"
His heart hammered loudly in his ears, where did she go? When did she leave?
Gray's adrenaline pumped clarity into him. He now knew exactly what he wanted. Juvia. He was going to find her and tell her that he…
"Shit," he muttered in disbelief, "I've fallen in love with her."
He pictured her; her porcelain skin, soft blue hair, her beautiful eyes and her brilliant smile. He recalled the times where she had cheered him on, defended him and tried her best to protect him. She was always there and always would be. He didn't deserve her but he wasn't about to let her go and realise that for herself. He would just have to be better, do better and prove it to himself that he was worthy of all she could give.
Lyon groaned again and moved slowly into a sitting position.
Gray nodded to himself, deciding what his next course of action would be. He hefted the other ice mage up and carried him outside. He then dumped him against the wall and blasted him with ice, encasing him.
"Stay there," ordered Gray.
He knew Lyon wouldn't be contained for long but at least it would give him enough time to complete his mission, Operation Gruvia.
He stomped away from Lyon, his cheeks tinging pink though no-one was around to see it. He couldn't believe he was already combining his and Juvia's names.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" he muttered.
He had his destination, Fairy Hills, plastered in his mind's eye and he didn't even care that he had left his apartment door open or that he was still actually only in his boxers. No, all that mattered to him right then was that Juvia was not by his side. He started to run.
Juvia slowed to a walk as she approached Fairy Hills. She pulled in a burning breath and then forced it out as she tried to calm herself. A new ache had been added to those she had been feeling all morning, so now it wasn't just her head and muscles that pained her, it was her heart as well. Gray didn't want her around and she was just too tired to deal the hurt.
She had disappeared out the door after he had denied kidnapping her. Perhaps if she had had a better night's sleep she would've stayed to watch the fight but, then again, she didn't really want to hear Gray rejecting her again and she didn't want to deal with Lyon's confusing attentions.
She needed to rest and recover, pull herself together and find her strength once more. She clenched her fists determinedly and strode inside the building which had been her home for many months now. Her heels clicked on the floorboards as she headed through the lobby and it reminded her that she had actually dropped her coat back at Gray's house after he had fallen on her.
Maybe Juvia will just buy a new coat…
Her sleepy eyes stared down at her dress as she climbed the stairs that would take her up to her room. Apprehension shot down her spine as she realised how it could look if one of the other girls saw her coming back like this. She forced herself to be more alert and to tread quieter. She arrived at her door and opened it quickly.
Her jaw dropped and then she let out a yelp.
"Mira-chan?" she questioned in a shocked whisper, "Erza-san?"
"It's about time," said Erza by way of greeting.
The redhead was by Juvia's closet, going through the various items while Mira was straightening up the room and making sure everything was immaculate.
"Why are you in Juvia's room?" asked the water mage as she shakily stepped further inside.
"Oh, you're silly," Mira chuckled, waving her hand about, "We're here for our reward of course."
"R-reward?"
"Of course," responded Erza with a small smile as she turned and folded her arms across her armour clad chest, "We did accept your request after all."
The two S-class mages tried not to laugh at the expression of complete bewilderment on Juvia's face.
"R-request?"
"Yes," beamed Mira, "We completed it."
"Twice," added Erza wryly.
"J-juvia…w-what…" she couldn't even comprehend anything about the situation.
"Juvia!" shouted a familiar voice, "Juvia!"
Gray barrelled into the room, nearly knocking the water mage over. He grabbed her before she fell and spun her around to face him.
"Juvia," he said, panting slightly, his dark eyes burning right into her and causing her chest to grow tight, "You're mine, got that?"
She felt herself growing weak and was glad he held her up.
"G-gray-sama?" she breathed, "W-what…w-why?"
He shook her shoulders slightly as he practically shouted, "I love you, okay, Juvia? And there's nothing you can do about it! I love you dammit!"
Juvia blinked at the intense expression on his face, then her heart seemed to explode.
"G-gray-sama l-loves Juvia?"
He moved his hands to cup her face and pulled her closer. He slowly brought his mouth down to meet hers, meaning it to be a gentle gesture, a sweet moment, but as soon as their lips touched…he couldn't stop himself from making a claim.
He licked her lower lip and then slipped his tongue inside her mouth as she gasped in surprise. He growled at the taste of her and tilted his head slightly, deepening the kiss and rubbing his tongue against hers in such a way that a bolt of lust shot straight through her and settled between her legs.
He pulled away before she could start to kiss him back and then he stared right into her slowly opening eyes as they both breathed unevenly.
"Yes," he said quietly, pulling into his arms, "Gray loves Juvia."
Juvia whimpered and threw her arms around him as joyful tears welled up in her eyes. He ran his hand down her hair and glanced up. That was when he noticed there were two others in the room.
"Erza, Mira…what are you doing here?"
The white haired woman was clutching Erza tightly, tears streaming down her grinning face while Erza herself seemed a little emotional too. Instead of answering him, Mira dragged Erza around him and Juvia, heading for the door. Before they left, Mira winked at the blue haired woman.
"We'll come back later."
Juvia gave a rather watery grin and wondered what she could possibly do to repay them for giving her what she wanted, Gray Fullbuster.
THE END...for now.
AN: So...thanks to everyone who has favourited/followed and reviewed this fic! You're all amazing and so i guess i'll tell you that i'll probably do some connected One Shots for this fic and add them as extra chapters here, maybe one about them going on another date or the guild finding out about them or ya know, them actually 'doing it' :O Meh, thanks guys!
Oh and also, i had originally just planned for it to be Mira who took the request because...she's Mira the Matchmaker ;) But also i reckon Erza is a Gruvia shipper ;) ;) Oh yeah and Happy Gruvia Week guys!