Captive

by hisuichanxx

"I have this strong urge to make you mine!" What if Juvia had gotten her wish? Set in the Phantom Lord Arc, an AU in which Gray Fullbuster is held captive by the rival guild

9. Day 7

xA/Nx

I wanted to post this on my birthday – 5/30 – that didn't happen.

I wanted to post this on Juvia Day – 6/03 – that didn't happen.

But I think the important thing, what I'd really like to focus on instead of my own poor time management skill, is that I managed to post something at all.

I really hope you enjoy it.

Mwah!

xJx

A soft sigh was the only signal Juvia gave to announce that she had awakened and it was muffled heavily by the sounds of the boiler room further down the hall, and the joints of the guild as it rattled and clanked it way along whichever end of Fiore they were currently meandering around.

In about ten seconds she'd be very grateful for that.

Her eyes were slow to open while she took in the peaceful quiet, so rare at her guild, but open they did, and a moment later they were stuck that way, practically bulging out, mid-yawn, when she caught sight of the ice mage.

Her view of him was completely unobstructed.

Thanks to the newly constructed rune-wall that was his only barrier now, instead of the bars before. That, coupled with the fact that the iron bed Gajeel had made for her was flush with the entrance to his cell; no doubt he'd built the frame with the width of the corridor in mind, concluding that even if the Fairy Tail mage managed to escape the cell, he'd have to climb in, then over, her bed to be free.

Juvia was too light a sleeper for that work.

He probably hadn't counted on her getting a front row seat to this…

This peep show.

As her face grew warmer and warmer, she wasn't sure if she should be grateful for that lapse in judgment, or not.

He was exercising. Quiet huffs and pants could be heard from him, but only when one was focused on him, as Juvia was just then. His back was bare and to her, and she watched his efforts, almost unseeing, yet somehow also mentally recording every moment to store and analyze later.

She'd never known anyone to be so… flagrant about their own body. Anyone could come down here and see, and it's like it didn't occur to him.

Or maybe he didn't care.

He was doing jumping jacks, every muscle and tendon in his back and arms moving in-sync as he hopped up and down. Sweat coated his skin, no doubt caused by the too warm dungeon rather than any strenuous activity on his part. As he moved, droplets would bounce off his veins and disappear from view, or else burst on impact and coat a little patch of skin.

Though there was this one bead, stubborn as the man it was latched to, that refused to be simply shrugged off or diverted from it's intended path. Juvia watched intently as it made its way down, following the curve of his spine, past the dip in his lower back, racing towards the skin hidden by the fabric of his jumpsuit.

Skin she'd gotten quite the view of last night when he'd suddenly discarded his pants in front of her.

It was such a vivid memory, it had haunted her dreams. She'd never in her life seen a bum so fir–!

"OI! What the fuck is wrong with ya!?"

Juvia practically leapt out of her skin.

"How many times do I have to tell ya, damn Stripper, to keep yer fuckin' clothes on!?"

Juvia's heart was beating double-time, nervous sweat pooling under her arms, while she worked to convince herself that clearly Gajeel was not talking to her, he probably didn't even know she was awake.

Still, the guilt wasn't willing to just evaporate on request.

"Y'know I think I read somewhere that those with impure thoughts should go ahead and pluck their own eyeballs out, rather than inconvenience other people who know how to mind their damn business. Just something to consider."

Pluck out their eyes?!

'Such drastic measures need not be taken!' The water maiden thought as she snapped her eyes closed, refusing to even breathe until her mind was as pure as the driven snow.

She didn't hear Gajeel respond but a moment later Captive-san let out an irritated huff and the springs of his cot squealed, indicating he must have collapsed on it.

Tension was now thick in the air, any peaceful quiet having abandoned the dungeons probably for the rest of that day's waking hours. It seemed as good a time as any to let the others know about her consciousness. Stretching her back out, she turned to the boy in the cell beside her and smiled like she was none the wiser, "Good morning, Captive-san."

He gave her a rather scrutinizing look, though she had to admit there was amusement mixed in there as well, "Not too sure about morning," He pointed towards the clock on the wall, "But it's nice to see you up as well."

"It's one o'clock?!" Juvia cried, darting off the bed like it had caught fire.

"Whaddya expect?" Gajeel grumbled from the corner, just under the clock, rubbing sleep from his eyes, "You went to bed late, ate late. And before that, ya had quite the little adventure, from what I saw."

He really wasn't going to let her falling asleep on the roof go, was he?

Refusing to acknowledge her fellow mage's concerns, she turned to the boy in the cell, "Juvia apologizes for her lack of consideration," the bluenette said, dipping at the waist, voice meek with humility, "It was never her intention to shirk her responsibilities towards you! If you'll give her some time breakfast will be prepared, lunch as well, if you like."

It wasn't until she opened her eyes to gauge his reaction and caught a glimpse of her legs, pale and bared before him, that she remembered the psuedo-nightgown she'd gone to sleep in and hopped back onto the bed, snatching up the blankets to get them out of sight.

Her skin was hot. She's only been awake a grand total of two minutes today, and she'd managed to spend all of it making a complete fool of herself!

"It's no big thing, missing breakfast, don't beat yourself up over," He replied evenly, and she remembered how casually he'd spoken about her attire last night, how he didn't find her the slightest bit inappropriate given that he in turn had flashed himself, "But I do think it's time we take some action on these stitches. I think I might have already plucked a few…"

Juvia was out of bed at once.

"Yes, of course," She was halfway through the wall when the bluenette remembered the first-aid kit was back upstairs and she froze.

While Captive-san may not mind her attire, her Master was another thing entirely. If he caught her like this…

Then again, he hadn't been out of his office more than a handful of times, what were the chances?

But it was one o'clock, the rest of the guild was doubtless up and buzzing about, anyone could catch sight of her and use her state of undress as a chance at brownie points in this increasingly fragile time for their guild.

On the other hand, she couldn't just leave him to suffer…

While indecision wracked her brain, Captive-san brushed his bangs back from his forehead, running a hand through hair now matted with sweat and her attention was diverted once again, "Perhaps you should take a shower first?"

"Woah, two in one day?" Gray mumbled dryly, "Careful now, I might start to think you have a little crush on m–"

"NO, THAT'S RIDICULOUS!" Juvia screamed.

And then she ran away.

xGx

By the time Juvia had come back to the dungeons, the iron bed had been packed away somewhere out of sight, and she had arrived bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and laden with food.

Meanwhile, Gray's mood… it hadn't taken a turn for the best.

He couldn't lie, she'd hurt his feelings a little earlier.

No. No, you know what, no she didn't. He didn't care. He really didn't care, it's just…

It wasn't ridiculous to assume someone could have a crush on him.

Was he her cup of tea?

Apparently not, she'd made that quite clear, but it didn't take a strenuous amount of mental gymnastics to wrap one's mind around liking him. So sorry to her that he wasn't some hulking graffitied neanderthal with arms he had to lumber around like freshly fallen timber, but he was cut from a very different cloth than the men she was used to seeing shuffling their way around Phantom Lord.

The lazy-eyed inbreds.

In all honesty, once again, he had to feel sorry for her, he really did. Between her involvement in this little shit-show they had running here, and her abhorrent taste in men, her future did not look bright. At least not in Gray's mind.

But his opinion didn't really matter did it?

'I can't fucking wait to get out of here!' Gray thought furiously, glaring at the back of the bluenette's head while she nibbled on fruit and chatted with Black Steel. ' These people, they're the only ridiculous thing I see! Hell, you can see they were crazy, a mile away!'

"Captive-san?" The Rain Woman had turned to look at him just then with deceptively innocent eyes, "Juvia understands fruit isn't your favorite–"

"Dumbass is gonna die of scurvy…" Black Steel chimed in with no small amount of glee.

Rather than tell him off, she nodded solemnly and said, "It's important you have something to eat. And the kiwi is very fresh. Unless… are you not a fan–?"

"Food's fine," He grouched, snapping a banana in half blindly and stuffing it into his mouth.

"That's good," She beamed and returned to her previous conversation.

"–think you heard wrong."

"No, that's not possible. Silas was very certain, she spoke–"

"Silas' word ain't worth air that carries it to yer ears," Black Steel dismissed, popping a couple grapes in his mouth, "I ain't gonna put my neck on the line based on her big ass mouth."

"That's no way to think of her–"

"She's a walking rumor mill. She just goes around making up stories. You'd think she'd bother getting paid for it, but nah, the bubble brain does it for free."

"Alright, well, Juvia happens to like Silas–"

"As much as anyone could like a person they'd never directly talked to," He chuckled, rolling his eyes.

"Anyway, Silas spoke to Veren, who was flagged down by Loudon who heard it directly from Noor–"

"Now Noor I might believe."

"Yes, she said Master wanted to speak with you."

Black Steel rolled his tongue over his teeth, studded brows dipped in irritation. His bright red eyes flashed toward Gray, before he shook his head, "If I run into Noor, I'll ask her directly, but I ain't going upstairs right now."

"Why not? If Master wants you, sooner is always better than later." Gray could have sworn he saw her shudder.

Black Steel didn't say anything, but his eyes bounced over to his cell once again.

Was he serious?

Juvia seemed to have caught on as well, "Oh, Gajeel-kun, don't be silly."

"Nothing silly about it. The guy's a perv, simple as that. And rune walls ain't a sure thing."

"Juvia wrote it herself!"

Black Steel gave her a look, but the ice mage

couldn't really discern what it meant.

"Look, when he drops off, I'll head up and look for Noor–"

"Why are you being like that, if something happened and Juvia cannot express how doubtful she is of that, she will put a stop to it imme–"

"You can go ahead and put that between waffle cones and fruit-flavored unicorn piss, on the very long list of shit I don't believe."

Gray was dumbstruck. What did he mean he didn't believe in waffle cones?

Now visibly shaken, the Fairy Tail mage watched as Juvia heaved and huffed, trying to pull Black Steel to his feet.

Was this the same girl who'd knocked the bastard flat on his back to defend Gray's honor last night, because it looked like she was lacking in the upper arm strength department.

"Come on, you must–! Up! Get up! At least a little–! Gajeel-kun!"

The man wasn't just unmoved, he started casually eating fruit to mock her.

When he took a long healthy sip of water, Gray began to consider maybe she was a natural born kicker instead…

"What are you even worried about?" She huffed, dropping his arm while she tried to catch her breath.

"I already told y–!"

"Yes, you think he's a pervert–"

Gray waited for her to vehemently deny that unfair slander on his character.

"–but how does that affect Juvia?"

She did not.

"Because that shit don't start and stop at flashing penes," Black Steel started, rage simmering in his eyes as he straightened, "They get comfortable being a pervert in public, and they start having a grand ol' time! You let those kinds of bastards keep their weiners and the next thing ya know they're grabbing at ya, copping a feel at the first opportunity–!"

Like a giant magnet that had sniffed out a fridge from across the room, Juvia's eyes immediately turned and landed on Gray.

Heat scorched his skin as he too remembered the incident from last night, when he'd landed square on her chest, one hand grabbing onto her like it was his to explore.

His only saving grace was that he genuinely hadn't walked for six days, the blood in body hadn't been circulating properly.

That, and he hadn't actually stripped until a little over an hour later.

Gray's ears began to burn.

His case was not as solid as he'd like.

"–nd if I catch him feeling you up? No fights, no warnings, I'ma kill him. End of story."

"Gajeel-kun," Juvia began patiently, "You will go upstairs, find Noor, and confirm if Master wants you. You will not risk your position over what-ifs, and," He looked like he was prepared to argue, "you will trust Juvia's abilities if the worst happens to come to fruition. But again, Juvia has her doubts."

Perhaps because he knew what had happened to between them, Gray felt her argument wasn't nearly as sound as she thought it was, or perhaps because Black Steel didn't know about their little incident he was more inclined to listen to her.

Either way, the bastard huffed and he puffed, but after a moment he got to his feet.

He was sure to give the ice mage a hearty dose of his stink eye as he left, but left he did, and a moment later, he and Juvia were alone.

xGx

Truth be told, Gray hadn't thought much about what had happened just down the hall, last night. It's not that he thought it wasn't a big deal, it's just that he'd managed to put it out of his mind.

But now it was back and bigger than ever. An awkward solid barrier, so much more tangible than the rune wall between them, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't help seeing it from her perspective.

She was a smart girl, she no doubt thought she saw a pattern. Sure, Black Steel ran around championing him as the biggest perv in Fiore, but she had the receipts.

Put 'em all together and a horrendous collage could be made.

"Captive-san?" The bluenette murmured, "Juvia has the first aid right here," She lifted the box for him to see, no longer meeting his eye, "It's not difficult to remove the stitches on your own, if you'd like…"

Determined to make this less uncomfortable, even if by force, he announced, "Never really did it before, so…"

It wasn't until the words were out that he realized he may have just inadvertently put her in a corner. What if she'd made that suggestion because she didn't want to be so close, in this tiny cell, alone with him, when no one else was down here to hear her scream?

The true horror of what those six little words implied dawned on him slowly, but hit him solidly in the chest.

"I mean–"

"Juvia understands, the likelihood of pulling something is small but not zero. Juvia will help."

Faster than he would have thought possible she was through the barrier and by his side, kneeling on the floor while she pulled open the first aid.

After setting everything out that she'd need from the box, she went to retrieve a candle from one of the scones, and then there was nothing left to keep her from touching him.

Pulling on a pair of black gloves, a little furrow appeared on her brow, "Captive-san?"

"Hm?"

"Perhaps… Would you like a bit of leather?"

Try as hard as he might, Gray wasn't smart enough to connect those dots. "What?"

"For your mouth?" She mimicked what she meant. "To bite down on?"

A new fear had just been unlocked, "Why–? Wh–Why would I need that Juvia?"

He hadn't counted on the Rain Woman being vengeful. Mother of Mavis, she was right; Black Steel had no business being worried about her safety if she was comfortable pulling the flesh off her enemies in their moment of vulnerability.

"Well… Juvia doesn't have any anesthesia."

Right, sure. If that's how she wanted to play it… "My pain tolerance is pretty high."

Better to feel his skin being ripped off than face the awkward silence, the quiet judgements, even a moment longer.

"Are you sure?"

No. "Yeah."

"Very well."

He slid down so he was as flat on his back as his side would allow him to lay, squeezing his eyes shut. Breathing deeply through his nose, he held the air in for a moment, determined to find something to focus on before releasing it.

The guild, every member, in alphabetical order. That ought work.

ting-ting!

She was testing the tweezers, the tiny tines snapping against each other as she squeezed them, close to his ear, so ominously–

Last names? Yeah, he'd go by last name.

Ok.

Alzack–

Nope, that was his first name…

Ok. Jet, Droy, Wakaba, Maca–

Why was this so hard? Forget being in alphabetical order, he couldn't even remember if they had last names–

Warm metal brushed against him, while Juvia's gloved fingers spread across his ribcage, leaving his skin taunt and better primed for the tweezers to latch onto the thread.

His mind went uncomfortably blank when he realized what she was going to do, and with only seconds to spare he started screaming at himself, panicked, trying to remember where the fuck Erza Scarlet landed between Elfman Strauss and Mirajan–

"MAVIS FUCKING VERMILION!"

Gray didn't realize he was standing until his knees gave out again.

He pulled his head out of his hands, tears pricking the corners of his eyes while he tried to regulate his breathing.

It wasn't until he'd finished wiping them away, throat dry and a little itchy, that he noticed Juvia wasn't besides him. She had fled, all the way on the other side of the rune wall; the bluenette sat on her knees watching him like he was something to be pitied.

Oh, great. Now his ego was as bruised as ribs.

"Perhaps… Maybe Juvia is not the best perso–"

"You know what, I don't hold it against you."

The Rain Woman's eyes darted across his face, but she didn't say anything, so Gray continued, "When I first woke up down here, I was pissy, I threw things. And you let me have my tantrum. And as a fellow adult, I understand it's only fair if I let you air out your own grievances."

"…Captive-san?"

"Do I agree with your methods? Not really." He winced. "It feels a little more personal, more physically abusive, but I understand it's not my place to tell you how to deal. But listen, I just want you to know that everything that happened– it was a complete misunderstanding!"

Juvia remained silent, but she shuffled forward until she was through the barrier and back beside his cot. She sat there, staring.

"I know it doesn't look great, when you put everything together– In most cases, two plus two clearly equals four. But if you give me a second, I can explain why that's not true here. This time it equals five, you gotta believe me!"

She blinked, hand hovering while she listened, and the ice mage was thankful for this moment of clarification he'd been granted.

"First and foremost, I need you to understand something: your's is the first boob I've ever grabbed in my life!"

Her lashes started moving double-time, blinking rapidly, trying to absorb this, "…Ok."

"I don't make it a habit to feel up strangers!" He continued, unable to meet her eyes, now. "I don't make it a habit to strip either, that just sorta happens… but y'know, I'm working on it!"

"…Yeah?"

"Yeah! I mean this is nothing," He gestured wildly around himself, to encompass all the time he had spent in Phantom's dungeon, "if we were at my guild–! Mavis, you'd have seen me ass-naked at least three times a day!"

" …At least!?"

Her squeaks pulled him out of his shyness just enough to look her in the eye, and he could see he was making a bad situation worse.

Her face was beet-red, eyes as wide as saucers and wildly unfocused. The Rain Woman swayed where she sat, mouth agape at his confession, while Gray resisted the urge to hold out a hand and keep her upright.

She was so openly disgusted there was blood running from her nose, the ice mage realized with a start.

"Look, you're perfectly safe here. See?" He very slowly, very deliberately, moved his hands within her line of sight, before tucking them under his arms, "I swear to never touch you like that again."

"Hmm?" She shook herself a bit, expression changing into something Gray didn't quite recognize, " Never?"

"Not for as long as I live," He nodded.

"Well, that's gonna be a long time, perhaps one day, maybe Juvia's birthday or som–"

He raised his hand as if in oath, "Juvia– Er, what's your last name?"

"Lockser."

"Lockser," He repeated, testing it on his tongue, "Ok. Juvia Lockser, I swear on the good name of my guild, that I will never touch you there, even by accident, even if it could somehow save my life, for as long as I live."

"And Captive-san is swearing on the good name of Fairy Tail, is he?"

"Yes."

"Oh, well," she sighed, smile blossoming in spite of their mortifying conversation, "then Juvia has nothing to worry about."

"Exactly," Gray breathed, relieved she was so capable of forgiveness. "Now could you please…"

"Hm?"

She was swiping down the tweezers with a bit of alcohol, now.

"Can you please just, maybe not think about that little incident in the hall too hard while you take–"

He was surprised by a slap to his shoulder. It didn't hurt, but he sure wasn't expecting it. "What?"

"What?" She repeated hotly, expression cross; it was almost funny, "What are you implying? That Juvia would take vengeful actions against you while you're laying here, unguarded, unable to even defend yourself?"

There was a duh in there somewhere, he was sure of it. "Well, yeah–"

"Well, no!" The Rain Woman's eyes were drilling holes in the floor as if she were too angry at his implications to even look at him, "Juvia tries her best not to be a bad person, she is not perfect but she– she tries. To insinuate… No, Juvia did not deliberately hurt you."

"Then what the hell was that before? It felt like you were stripping off my skin!"

In that short little moment, Gray was pretty sure he saw God.

And by the way, his mustache was egregious.

"That's because," She pulled back his arm, revealing his side for the pair of them to see, "whoever put these in… They did an awful job, there's all these little knots in the stitches, Juvia has never seen–!"

Knots?

"It is not her place to judge, however… A– A child would know better. It's going to be so much harder to remove them than Juvia anticipated. She didn't mean to pull Captive-san's skin, she should have warned him…"

Knots.

"Perhaps this is a style where you're from and Juvia is in the wrong? Do they heal faster this way? Does Captive-san remember who did this? Take a moment if you must, think hard."

Gray didn't have to think hard. He didn't have to think at all.

In all his life, only one person had ever done such shoddy medical work that Porlyusica broke down crying.

Eight years ago, after a hearty game of tag in West Forest, Elfman had tripped over a rough root and split his forehead. He'd bled and cried, and scared the hell out of Gray.

It was only the three of them in the forest that day. Himself, Elfman, and the sole practitioner.

Erza.

Knots, that had been the thing to break the pink-haired doctor. Knots in the stitches, she couldn't wrap her mind around it.

Erza had left her little clinic in a tree, proud as a prize stallion, completely oblivious to the normally stoic woman's sobs, inside.

Elfman had the scar from those stitches to this day.

Thinking back, he remembered very clearly, even while half drunk with pain, how she'd ripped open the curtain to the makeshift medical tent they'd propped up on Galuna Island, purposely, cleared out the room with all the authority her voice could command of others, and informed him that her skills would be at his disposal.

Gray also remembered crying out for help, how he'd tried to scramble away, the glint of a sword handle, and then darkness…

No wonder it had taken all this time for him to heal. No wonder he'd been bleeding out periodically.

That damn woman!

"But… Juvia understands, maybe the circumstances weren't all that convenient. If you had to do it yourself, well… It– You really tried your best."

She was misinterpreting the rage beginning to simmer within Gray, taking it personally.

"It's a shitty job, done by an even shittier nurse."

Her hand went to his chest, concern clear, "Juvia didn't say tha–"

"Captive-san said it."

Her hold on him became more firm, pushing until he was laying down, "Juvia will be more careful, she cannot apologize enough for not noticing sooner."

"It's fine." The girl took to guilt like it was free ice cream. "Really, it has nothing to do with you."

She looked unconvinced, so he redirected the conversation, "Pass me that book?"

She did, one brow raised in curiosity.

"I'm gonna read while you work," Better that than try to remember Max's last name– Y'know he was starting to think he didn't know the ins-and-outs of his guild as well as he'd once believed, "If I focus on this…"

Well, it wasn't going to make the pain go away, "It'll be better, if I have something to focus on, He concluded.

Juvia dipped her chin, "If it's not too much trouble, read aloud, please. That way, Juvia will know if an issue arises and she needs to ease into it a bit more."

"I think I'm ahead of you, are you ok with spoilers?"

She nodded, attention more centered on his side than his words. He watched while she pulled up her hair, remembering with a start that she didn't normally wear it long and loose like that, then shook himself slightly, flipping open her book.

"I'm on page 738."

Her head popped up, "My goodness, you're a fast reader!"

He tried not to preen; putting on a face of faux-contention, he deadpanned, "Thanks, unfair imprisonment has really done wonders on my attention span."

Her lips twitched before she bent her head over him once again.

"I'm just gonna start at the top of the page."

"Very well."

He felt a slight pinch, but it wasn't nearly as bad as before, so Gray was able to begin, " The bite of the crystalized pineapple and cranberries she'd eaten, delicacies she'd never fathomed in her 19 years before living in the palace, had been bitter enough. Coupled with the dark wine she'd seen more than a few of the gentry downing with puckered lips and pinched expressions and one could assume her mouth would be frothing with discomfort, desperately seeking relief.

However, as the King's tongue explored her own, his lips enrobed with the wine he'd been trying to drown his sorrows in moments before, she could admit that there was pleasure hidden within mild suffering.

Perhaps she was drunk herself.

Nonsense words, half formed from thoughts he'd cut off abruptly when he'd rolled on top of her, tumbled from her lips in a daze. The fog in her mind left her floating, and his lips on her chin, neck, collarbone, did nothing to help.

Distantly she heard the snap, though she couldn't quite place it, and understood he was ready and willing to be more daring. All that could stop him was her voice, but as he continued nipping the tip of ear, the will to end this vanished.

The freedom he'd just been granted was dangerous for them both.

"Perhaps…" But the rest of the thought fled her; his thumb had found the band of her garter, his fingers making quick work of the lace ties keeping her stockings up.

In seconds, he had one of her thighs on his shoulder, her eyes flying open when he lowered his mout–"

"What the hell, Juvia?"

She'd slapped the book into his chest, face flushed and eyes wide, "How–? How cou–? Captive-san, that is not–!"

Ah, she was probably confused.

Based on where she'd left off in the book, the main character hadn't even been willing to listen to him talk for five minutes without considering poisoning him, and yet here they were, tangled in each other. That had to be quite the leap they'd made, from Juvia's perspective.

Now understanding where her confusion was coming from, he explained, "Ok, maybe what's missing is the context. You see, the poor girl managed to secure about a third of the funding needed to vamp up their military after the King's fiancee ran away at the altar–"

" He got engaged?! To whom?"

"Yeah, see, that's a spoiler." Kinda tried to warn her about that. "Anyway, now that he doesn't have to get married, he feels there's no excuse why they shouldn't move forward with their little rendezvous. So as a thank you for the money, he decided to eat her out in the wedding gift room."

She mimicked a fish for a few moments before blustering out, "The context makes it no better!"

Maybe he didn't explain it right. "Ok, see, he was very sad–"

"It makes no difference to Juvia, that is pure filth you're reading aloud!"

"Oh, well." She was taking some pretty hard lines for someone who hadn't even finished the first arc of the story, "If it makes you feel better, I don't think he's going to get her to completion. I mean, the wedding gift room? Filled with reminders of his very recent engagement? It doesn't scream romance or you're my one true love. It's more like I'm willing to get down and dirty with just about anyone now that I'm officially free, now lemme pop open those legs like a pack of peanuts a–"

"What if instead," The bluenette cut in, voice an octave higher, " Juvia shared a story with you? Something a little more, uh… mixed company friendly?"

"What mixed company?" Gray asked, gesturing lazily to the mostly empty dungeon, "It's just you and me here, mono e mono, a little freak and her kiddnapp…"

The end of his sentence died in his throat, not only because she'd interrupted him, but because he'd caught the precise moment her entire demeanor changed. Eyes wide in a wild furious sort of way, color deepening from the neck up, "Juvia is not a–!"

She cut herself off with a deep, forced inhale, holding it in just long enough for some of the red to recede, before she snapped her eyes back upon him.

She took her book back, none too gently, "You spent all that time convincing Juvia you aren't a– a– a sexual deviant," Her face hadn't been it's usual color for about ten minutes now, and he doubted it was going to be that way any time soon, "and then you pull something like this?"

"What do you mean something like this, I'm reading!"

Her expression oozed disapproval, "You know what Juvia means."

He really didn't. " You recommended the book–"

"Juvia never recommended that, she didn't even know the book contained that!" The bluenette hissed, like she passing along a terrible secret, "She thought you would like a story about horses–"

"What horses?" He whispered, searching her face as though she'd gone mad.

In turn, she didn't even bother to look defensive, "Well, they drive carriages whenever they have to leave the castle, don't they? The horses pull those carriages, no magic involved at all. It adds charm!"

He should have insisted on some anesthesia.

"Juvia… that was the smallest little detail…" If there were horses in that book, they were purely mentioned in passing, they didn't even have names. Their sole purpose was to set the scene, nothing else.

To recommend a three thousand page story, among the hundreds the magical book was no doubt capable of telling, based on that…

The water maiden had gotten all huffy, tossing away the soiled bandages all while she pouted, bemoaning, "Juvia honestly believed in Captive-san, and this whole time, Gajeel-kun was right about you…!"

Oh no he wasn't!

"There's a big difference between me showing off little–" The ice mage had come so close to letting his name slip just then, and he got the feeling she sensed it because her eyes lit up with unmasked anticipation, "Little me–"

Disappointment dimmed them again.

"–and reading about a couple wacky characters. My nether regions exist in reality, whereas they are just ink on magic paper," He went for the book again, but she used her kneeling position above him as leverage to keep it out of his reach. He sighed, "You're being childish."

"And your behavior is far too mature," She admonished, like she'd caught a kitten in the treat bag.

The bluenette tucked the book behind herself, and resettled with posture so straight it looked like her spine had been replaced with a steel flag pole, "Please resume your resting position, Juvia will begin shortly."

In the face of her needlessly formal tone, Gray flopped back like a pancake, disapproval clear in his expression and voice, "Never took you as a book banner, Juvia." He was learning all kinds of things about her, and he wasn't sure how to feel about it.

"It is not banned. You can have it back when we're done, Juvia would just prefer you not read it to her."

He could have read it silently, y'know.

But he didn't say that. Instead, he lifted his arm to let her resume her work.

xGx

Gray wasn't sure how long it had been or how many stitches she had released, but he knew one thing for certain, he couldn't continue this in silence.

Every moment seemed amplified with nothing else to focus on. The pain prickling along his skin on his side was enough to bring fresh tears to his eyes, until he'd finally had enough.

"Hey."

No response.

Funny, he knew she was there.

"He– Hey, Juvia."

"Hm?"

"Didn't you– ah!" He squeezed his jaw, riding out the twinge. Gray shook his head roughly, "Didn't you promise me a story?"

She looked up, face closer to his than he'd realized.

It didn't seem to bother her, "Eh? You'd actually like to hear it?"

He would listen to penguins pissing in a bucket if it could take his mind off Erza's shitty nursing skills. "Yeah. Please, whatever– Yeah, you have the floor."

Pink bloomed along her cheeks, and he couldn't figure out why.

She cleaned the tweezers with a bit more alcohol, face hidden when she whispered, "Juvia isn't much of a storyteller, but she does have a favorite. It's called The Red Thread of Fate."

He'd never heard of it, which was perfect. "Sounds great."

The bluenette nodded, "It's her first time, y'know, doing this sort of thing, so," She glanced at him, her gaze quickly darting away when their eyes met, "Will you promise to be gentle with Juvia?"

He could have said something about the strange way she'd worded such a benign request on his part, but his mind went oddly quiet, just then.

She waited for him to respond, and he mumbled out a mildly confused, "Sure."

Her head bobbed again.

As if to respect her request, the quiet of the dungeon took on almost a different air, warmer. More comforting. She had resumed her place beside him, hovering intently, before she began.

" There are many versions of the tale," Juvia whispered, voice mellow and soothing enough for him to close his eyes, " It comes as quite the surprise you haven't heard it before. Many people have many theories as to who came up with it first, but for Juvia, that doesn't really matter. The idea that all across Earthland, people have been compelled to tell this story feels, at least to Juvia, like it contains some inkling of truth. And really, that's all that matters.

" There are three versions Juvia holds near to her heart. All of them feature a central character: Yuè Lǎo (月老), the old lunar matchmaker god, who is in charge of marriages.

"One story involves a young boy. Walking home one night, a young boy sees an old man– Yue Lao –standing beneath the moonlight. The man explains to the boy that he is attached to his destined wife by a red thread. Yue Lao shows the boy the young girl who is destined to be his wife. Being young and having no interest in having a wife, the young boy picks up a rock and throws it at the girl, running away."

Gray's eyes snapped open, certain he'd misheard.

"Many years later, when the boy has grown into a young man, his parents arrange a wedding for him. On the night of his wedding, his wife waits for him in their bedroom, with the traditional veil covering her face.

"Raising it, the man is delighted to find that his wife is one of the great beauties of his village. However, she wears an adornment on her eyebrow. He asks her why she wears it and she responds that when she was a young girl, a boy threw a rock at her that struck her, leaving a scar on her eyebrow.

"She self-consciously wears the adornment to cover it up. The woman is, in fact, the same young girl connected to the man by the red thread shown to him by Yue Lao back in his childhood, showing that they were indeed connected by the red thread of fate, all along.

" Another version–"

Wait, was that it?

They went through with the marriage? Did he ever tell her? Did he feel guilty for permanently disfiguring his wife? Were there consequences?

Did he still throw rocks at women?

None of Gray's concerns were addressed, mainly because Juvia didn't seem to have the slightest problem with what she'd just relayed to him. If anything, she was even more hunky-dory than when she began.

And she'd plowed on to the next version before he could even wrap his mind around which part of that story fucked him up the most.

"–o f the same story involves an ambitious young man who talks to Yue Lao and insists on asking him about who will he marry, thinking that he'll meet himself a rich girl.

"Yue Lao points at a poor-looking little girl who's taking a stroll with an old blind woman in a marketplace, shows him a red thread between the two, and tells the man that he'll marry her someday.

"Displeased, the man tells a servant–"

Oh, no, no, no.

"–to kill the two–"

Oh, Mavis, why?

"–and then leave the village.

Gray's eyes were directly on Juvia now, boring into the side of her face with quiet disappointment.

Too quiet apparently, because she didn't notice and continued humming along her story.

"Years later the man, now a promising public officer, marries a beautiful woman from a rich family who is very much the perfect wife for him save for two details: she has a limp and covers her forehead with a silk patch for undisclosed reasons."

If this was going where he thought it was going…

"He asks his wife why and she begins crying, telling him that she is the niece of the family leaders, rather than their daughter: her parents died when she was young and she initially lived with her old blind nanny, but one day a madman stabbed her caretaker to death in a local marketplace, and wounded her, leaving her scarred and almost crippled.

"The man realizes that Yue Lao was right, tearfully confesses that he ordered the attack and asks his wife for forgiveness, which she gives to him."

WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT?

An innocent woman was dead! It was all his fault, she should get to stab his old nanny at the very least.

At this point, Gray's mouth was hanging open, looking for logic in a place clearly bereft of it.

They were going two for two now, and story number three didn't seem like it was willing to break tradition.

And the Rain Woman claimed these were her favorite versions? He'd hate to see the reject pile.

She swiped at his skin with a damp cloth while he stared, forced to see her in yet another new light.

" In another story, a girl has a crush on a boy and decides to declare her love for him."

Ok. Well, maybe with the main character being a girl this time, the version wouldn't be quite so ruthless.

" Unfortunately, the boy rejects her and makes fun of her. The girl runs off to a fountain where she meets Yue Lao who tells her they are soul mates.

"The girl is still fuming and runs off."

Good for her.

"When the girl becomes a lady, she meets a young man who seems very charming and in other terms familiar to her. She then asks the man for his name and he says the name of the young boy. The lady doesn't seem to realize though. On their special day, he tells her a girl liked him but he was foolish and made fun of her for it, he then exclaims the girl had the same name as her. Realizing who he was, she admits she was the girl and he eventually apologizes."

And– And then, what? They get married? That's it?

And what did she mean by eventually? How far down the line did she have to wait for a simple sorry?

Gray released a sigh.

Better than the others? Yes. But the bar was underground there, a woman was murdered.

How could she think, above any other story ever told, that this was so good she actually considered it her favorite?

No.

When Juvia turned away again to do something or other, he took that as the opportunity he needed to sit up and confront her, head-on.

A small smile graced her lips, completely oblivious to his concerns, "So, what do you think?"

"Juvia…." Where to even begin?

"Is something wrong?"

Yeah. "Something's wrong with you."

She pulled back as if aghast, which struck Gray as a little funny. "Because if those were your favorite stories, I'm just gonna have to assume you didn't own any other books as a child."

She blinked, then shook her head, finally appearing to cotton on, "Captive-san, you've got it all wrong, Juvia had access to other books, it's just… she genuinely loves The Red Thread of Fate."

He shook his head soundly, simply unwilling to believe. "Look, an orphanage, that's where you grew up? You don't have to protect them anymore. Denying a child the right to go to the library is a criminal offense in my book. And if past relationships or some sense of loyalty is keeping you from writing them up, don't give it a thought. I'll do it. All I need is a name, and they will be anonymously reported to, and brought forth before, the Council."

"Juvia likes those stories," she repeated, laughing.

Gray didn't exactly feel this was a laughing matter.

"If you liked the Fate String–"

"The Red Thread of Fate."

"Exactly. If your heart is so open it could welcome Yarn's Destiny," She threw him a look that bounced off him like sunlight on white walls, "you are going to burst into flames over Cinderella."

"Juvia knows of Cinderella," She rolled her eyes, snapping the first aid kit closed, "Of course she does. And it's fine, it's simply not her favorite."

"Right. Which part turned you away, the lack of throwing rocks at little girls, or the way everybody lived in the end? Was it the cuddliness that really broke you down, Juvia?"

"Yes, because cutting off your toes to fit a slipper and having birds pluck out your eyes are so genteel."

"I beg your pardon?" What the fuck kind of Cinderella was she reading?

"In the story," She replied like the nonsense she was spouting was obvious, "the step-mother pulls her daughter into a back room and chops off her toes to get her foot to fit in the slipper. And then after Cinderella is declared the true owner of it, magic birds come down and pluck the other sister's eyes out as punishment for how she'd treated Cin–"

"That was the bootleg version," he declared, sure of himself now, "the real one– there's talking mice, a magic pumpkin, indentured servitude. Completely up your alley. If only you had a library card," Gray tutted, now full of pity.

"Juvia will have you know Phantom has an extensive library upstairs that she frequently quite regu–"

"There's a library upstairs and you're clinging to The Sewing Pattern Fortunes?"

"You're doing that on purpose."

"I know." The mage chuckled, "It's just… There's nothing in that story to love. I'm sorry."

"That's not true! The boy and girl, each time, they meet under contentious circumstances but as they grow and understand each other, they fall in love, it's very romantic. They were meant for each other."

"Right." He could see why it was considered fantasy.

"Anyway Juvia wasn't asking for your criticism," She folded her arms, "she just wanted to know how you felt."

"About what?"

"Your stitches. How's your side now?"

Gray looked down with a start. She was done. All the thread had been extracted and placed in a little disposable plate beside her, he was officially free and clear, and he hadn't felt a thing.

He opened his mouth to thank her, but paused, as her expression was still cross, "You wouldn't understand why Juvia wants to believe in something like that…" The bluenette mumbled.

In the wake of her ministrations, he was even willing to hear her fucked up version of Cinderella, "No, no. I do, I do. The number of times I've laid awake at night, wishing someone would throw a rock at my head so I could find a wife are immeasurable. I've pushed back my appointment with Kardia Cathedral so many times, I just know the bishop has it out for me. If only I had an old nanny I could kill off…"

Then he thought of Ur.

Oh Mavis, he hoped Deliora wasn't his soul mate. That bastard had been flushed out to sea, how the hell was he supposed to build a loving house and home with a pile of water?

As if she could sense his thoughts, Juvia pouted, "It's very easy for you to be so dismissive, Captive-san has already found his one true love."

He scoffed initially, but it ended up as quiet laughter, "Where'd you hear that?"

"Please do not be coy," The Rain Woman murmured grimly, "Juvia knows of your girlfriend."

Gray sat up further, back against the wall, inspecting his chest with a satisfied nod while he poked and prodded, before stating flatly, "I don't have a girlfriend."

"Yes. You do."

"No. I don't." Gray was pretty sure he'd be at least one of the first people to know if he did. Top five, tops. "Are you sure you don't have me confused w–?"

The maker mage paused, watching her lips move rapidly, and he was pretty sure he heard her mutter, "Juvia never intended to be a homewrecker!" before saucer-sized eyes darted up to his face and she cried out, "Fianceé?"

"No, I don't–"

" Wife!? " She hollered with a level of alarm Gray felt would only be appropriate if he revealed he was hiding an atomic bomb somewhere in his pants.

"I'm not married–"

"You've separated," the bluenette whispered, scandalized, "To think you two have already gone through a divorce at your age… So young, yet so much worldly experience, Juvia cannot imagine–"

"I have no id–"

"But what about the children?" She gasped, fully ignoring him now as she clutched her face.

It was a lot like talking to a chicken.

Honestly.

This level of misunderstanding and confusion would only be excusable if she were a fully fledged fowl.

He grabbed her wrists, shaking her slightly as he declared very deliberately, enunciating each syllable, "I'm not seeing anyone. I am not married. I have never been married. I am never getting married–"

"Well, let's not be hasty…"

"–and I don't have any fucking kids." He released her with a sharp huff from his nostrils, maintaining eye contact so he could watch as the dots slowly connected for her. "Was I clear enough?"

Juvia's chin bobbed, though her brows were still scrunched with concern.

"Captive-san, do you mean to say… That blonde girl with the keys… is not expecting your third child?" She asked cautiously, with a voice that almost sounded like wonder.

"No!" Gray hollered back, "I've been to her house once, I'm not even completely sure what her last name is!"

Well, he knew it, he just wasn't all that sure how to spell it. In his mind he knew he'd never seen a hyphen, yet for some reason it just felt right when he heard it touch his ear–

Then something horrible dawned on him. "Wait… when she was here… Did Lucy say th–?"

He hadn't pegged the new girl as an outright lunatic, but then again he'd been wrong in his assessment of Phantom Lord; who's to say how accurate his 'batshit crazy' radar actually was?

But Juvia was quick to jump in, then, "Oh! No, no, no! She never said that, did she? And neither did you." With her face resting against her palm, the bluenette grinned.

Grinned.

Her demeanor was downright sunny. A complete 180 from the woman just a moment before.

Gray blinked, newly mesmerized.

"It seems Juvia got her wires crossed a bit there! Captive-san has never been with blondie, they have no underlying romantic connection. Is that right?"

"…Yeah?"

Almost impossibly, her smile widened while she gazed at him. "Juvia wants cookies!" The bluenette announced, rather loudly.

Admittedly, quieter than she'd hollered wife, but still with enough alarm to only really be appropriate if he'd revealed to her that Lucy was strictly attracted to elk.

Between one second and the next, she was up on her feet, startling Gray yet again, before she zipped through the rune wall, out of his cell.

"Juvia will not return until she has the best cookies on Earthland! Captive-san is sure to love them! Goodbye!"

And then she bounced away, practically floating on air.

Gray had been through quite a few bizarre interactions since this little stint with Phantom started, including, but not limited to, their goddamn guild master, but for some reason, this was the one that truly stumped him.

How could she think he was 18 years old with three kids and an ex-wife?

What was wrong with these people?!

xGx

Once again, the bluenette proved to be true to her word. About an hour and a half had passed since she'd declared her intent to make the best cookies on Earthland, a pretty tall order in his book.

Not only were they beautifully presented – when did she find the time to hand paint little snowflakes on the parchment paper the cookies were nestled in, as well as bedazzle the box and ribbon? – he had to admit, flavor-wise, they were some bomb ass cookies.

Gajeel was back with a none too subtle glare at him, but as there nothing out of place for him to see for himself, and both Gray and Juvia had taken a silent unanimous vow not to speak on the night before, he'd stomped over to the corner, no words passing between them.

Juvia bounded over to him excitedly, completely unfazed by his sour demeanor, and presented him with a second box Gray hadn't noticed before.

"What is it?"

She pressed the box into his arms, "Juvia's very special, Death By Chocolate cookies!"

Gray froze, pulling out the treat that had already touched his tongue, the fifth one in a row so far. He squinted, "Why do you call 'em that, Juvia?"

"Because there's a lot of chocolate in them!" She beamed.

"Yeah, that better be the reason…" He muttered, stuffing his face once more.

Black Steel popped open the box with a flick of his thumb, nodding appreciatively, before digging in himself.

Silence reigned in the dungeon, only broken by quiet murmurs of admiration for the work the bluenette has put into her baked goods, while she simpered to herself, eyes closed, hands clasped under her chin.

Something flashed across Gray's vision, but as it had happened so fast at first he took it as an odd flare up of the candles, perhaps reflecting off the bars of the other cells. But then it kept happening, and he began to notice it only happened when Black Steel was stuffing his face.

The maker mage motioned Juvia closer and waited until she was just under an inch from the barrier before whispering, "Hey are you trying to kill him?"

"Hm?" She pulled back, startled, "Why would you say that?"

"There's–" Gray squinted in case he was seeing wrong, but no, he was sure the only thing that could reflect light like that was metal, "There's like shrapnel or something in his food–"

"Oi! You got yours, fix yer greedy eyes over somewhere else," The older boy growled.

Rather childishly, if Gray were being honest.

"Gajeel-kun, please," the bluenette sighed, like she was explaining two plus two to the same ape for the upteenth time and she couldn't stand to do it again, "No one on Earthland can consume those cookies besides you. He doesn't want to eat them, he's simply confused why you can."

"That's what they all say," he grumbled.

"Yes, because they are all reasonably confused!" Juvia rubbed a hand down her face before she returned to Gray, "Gajeel-kun is an iron dragon slayer," She explained, and Gray felt the equivalent of a sucker punch hit his gut at the news, "He eats metal, the same way we'd eat any normal meal, though when he consumes it, there's kind of a little boost for him, magic wise, depending on the quality. Therefore, certain metals, especially the rare or super refined ones, are like treats to him. He has a sizable collection of different kinds and sometimes Juvia will bake them into her cookies as an extra special something just for him."

The ice mage turned to the obnoxious boy across from him, seeing him in a new light.

"Juvia is sure all that is a lot to take in, it is rather strange, eating a element–"

"I'm familiar with the concept."

His mind went to that night, when Gajeel had bent the bars of his cell, like pulling apart two sheets of paper, no sense of strain when he pushed them back into place, waltzing away.

His arms and face, and possibly other places hidden by his clothes at the moment, were studded with metal.

The poles of iron, bigger than tree trunks that he'd destroyed the guild with.

For whatever reason Gray could only assume he was some kind of maker mage, unusually enthusiastic about ironworks; it hadn't even occurred to him to think of lost magic.

He felt dumb for not recognizing it before: the wolfish expressions, his need to turn every little thing into a fight. The air he carried around was of a more sinister quality, but the similarities were blaring now that she'd pointed out the missing piece.

A dragon slayer.

He'd been cut from the same cloth as Natsu, all the signs had been there, right in front of him.

"Wonderful."

Juvia's head tilted at his tone, but he just shook his head a bit and slumped back onto his cot.

This meant…

Mavis, this sucked. If this guy was a dragon slayer and he'd gone head-to-head with Natsu…

According to the bits and pieces he'd picked up, Black Steel and Flame Brain were pretty much even power-wise. What had done Natsu in in the end was his motion sickness, the one thing Gray could rely on, if one of their usual spars went on too long for his patience to manage.

Black Steel suffered from no such thing.

Which meant Gray was going to have to be really honest with himself.

If Natsu didn't have that one weakness, and he came at him, no holds bar, could Gray beat him?

Did he believe he could beat him so much that he was willing to gamble whatever chance came his way for escape, if only to keep his pride from being bruised at the idea that a guy as strong as Natsu could take him down?

Gray crossed his arms, jaw locked in frustration, the chocolate that still coated his tongue bitter and wholly unpleasant in the wake of this news.

His pride was an ugly, impulsive thing. It didn't care one way or another what the smart thing to do was when it was given even the smallest opportunity for glory and as he gave Gajeel another once-over, he knew deep down that he would never pass up the chance to see who would come out on top, even if his safety was on the line.

Perhaps especially since his safety was on the line.

He ran a rough hand through his hair, pulling the ends slightly with a short huff, then went for another cookie.

Juvia turned to Gajeel, then, "By the way, did you find Noor? Was it true Jose-sama wanted to speak with you?"

Black Steel nodded once.

"Well, what did he want?"

His eyes flickered to Gray momentarily, before he gruffed out, "Got a new assignment."

"Ah, really? When do you leave?"

Gray could sense… reluctance in the dragon slayer's delayed response. "Ain't like that. The mission is in house."

Juvia's fingertips traced patterns in the floor, "That's…"

Gray could see unvarnished confusion in the way she moved her hand; no doubt it was missing the little doll she usually played with. He wondered where it had gone.

"Has anyone else been given official duties inside the guild? Maybe it– But Jose-sama wouldn't make Gajeel-kun take notes for him…" Something seemed to occur to her then, "Oh, it's cleaning duties." She murmured, and her expression turned guilty, "Juvia knows we're all supposed to keep the place clean, but it's wasn't that bad when she went up an hour ago, perhaps you won't need to take on all the work by you–"

"Look, just drop it already."

"But…"

She sighed, almost as if to expel whatever manic desires kept her focus pinpointed on Gajeel, but Gray knew she wouldn't be able to move on until she expressed her concerns.

And he was right.

"If you must clean– Juvia of course isn't calling you dirty, it's just, when you're on window duty, you can be so rough, Juvia fears you'll break them and the guildhall has been through quite enough this past week–"

"It ain't cleaning duty!"

She went silent. But it was the kind of silence that led Gray to believe she was just thinking about it twice as hard. Gajeel must have come to the same conclusion, because he'd stopped eating, face now pinched.

"Grocery shopping!" She cheered, looking quite proud of herself, "Of course, yes, we're running low on– Well, just about everything! And here, Juvia was so worried Captive-san was going to starve." The bluenette fluttered her fingers at Gray, "She didn't want to say anything, y'know spread worry around unnecessarily, but Juvia did use quite a few ingredients. She kept making cookies and hating them, then throwing everything away. It was a mess! And as a result the cupboards are bare."

She turned back to Gajeel, "Alright, well, you should pick up some noodles, spinach, dashi, of course. Uh, cocoa powder, salmon, milk, bread, milk bread, shrimp, oatmeal, eggs, we're all out of eggs–" She looked up suddenly, "Do you want to write this down?"

It gave Gray no small amount of pleasure to see the way Juvia was unintentionally working Black Steel's nerves. "Did I say anythin' about going to the fucking store? Yer jumpin' to conclusions and I ain't supplying ya the damn net."

She threw up her arms, "Well, what other kind of mission would you need to do for the guild?"

"I never said for, I said inside."

"Well, yes, alright, inside then. What must Gajeel-kun do inside the guild?"

"Ya're so noisy," He griped, pulling something out of the back pocket of his Easter themed Phantom Lord jumpsuit, "It ain't gonna make you feel better, knowing. But since you won't lay off."

He tossed something in the air, and Juvia caught in one hand, brows furrowed.

It was a piece of paper, torn straight out of a notebook, though from where Gray was seated, he couldn't make out anything written on it.

He was, however, able to see Juvia's reaction.

"This is…"

"A kill list."

Juvia flipped the paper over quickly, scanning it in alarm before she let her hand go limp at her side, the sheet landing next to it, her knees pulling up to her chest tightly, "Three quarters of The Element Four…"

"Yeah," Gajeel nodded, looking surly when he pushed away his box of cookies, "by the end of the week."

By kill the ice mage was sure Black Steel meant kick out. As brutal as this place was, he doubted very seriously that Gajeel and Juvia would be stupid enough to openly admit to murder right in front of a witness.

Although they did speak of kidnapping Happy like they were planning a picnic in the park, so nothing was really guaranteed…

Gray wasn't sure if it was his place to pipe up during a moment of internal guild contention, but he also couldn't just stay silent, "So… By The Element Four, I mean, that's you. Three quarters..." The odds weren't looking great, "Are you–? You're done?"

"No. Juvia was spared." It looked like she was going to cry.

"Then that's…?" Well, not good news. For whatever reason a small part of him had been hoping… "You must be doing something right."

A fact that horrified Gray a little bit.

"No." Juvia sat up suddenly, and he thought she was responding to him, but her face was directed at Gajeel, expression pleading, "There must be some kind of misunderstanding. Something… We don't have the numbers to support this many cuts–"

"Careful." Gajeel's eyes darted to Gray with a clear warning implied, but Juvia dismissed his concern with a wave.

"After what happened to the branches– We're at less than 15% capacity as it is! This makes no sense, there's no way Jose-sama could pos–"

"It's all there in black and white, I listened to the geezer go on for an hour. Maybe more. Couldn't be clearer, this is what he wants."

"But what about his client, the wealthy man from country wanted us–"

" Juvia!"

Pink bloomed on her cheeks, and she flinched as if to physically distance herself from Black Steel's angry bark. Gray realized that was probably the first time he'd ever seen Gajeel really snap at her. Whatever this wealthy man wanted must be more serious than anything else they'd ever discussed in front of him.

He would bet the last of his cookies – something he really didn't want to do – that they were referring to Lucy's dad. He was sure of it. Maybe they didn't know that he knew the man was working with them, or maybe the work they were doing had morphed into something else, he didn't know.

Gray probably wouldn't have been interested if not for the dragon slayer's reaction and now he wondered idly if he could manage to weasel something out of Juvia once they were alone.

Perhaps due to his newly recognized, completely unfounded belief in his own ability to extract info out of others, he sat up as if wholly part of their discussion, "So now what? You put it to a vote? Pull in the remaining members to debate their merits? I guess you're in charge of their letters of departure?" He asked, gesturing to the dragon slayer.

Seemed kinda silly, the man didn't have much, in the way of words.

Gajeel scoffed, almost as if he'd heard Gray's mental aside. Juvia looked at him as if he'd sprouted a second head.

"I'ma grab 'em by the scruff of their neck, and toss 'em out the nearest window. They're done."

"No…" Gray started slowly, trying to decipher if he was speaking in hyperbole or not, "you don't mean that."

"He does."

"No."

"Yeah."

"What about their exit package?"

He looked as if he were genuinely holding back laughter, "Their exit package includes all their bones remaining whole and inside their body when they leave and that's only if they don't put up a fight."

Juvia flinched again.

"You would do that to your friends?"

Gajeel waved him off, expression a bit more clear as if he'd needed the humor Gray was supplying, "A snake needs to shed dead skin to stay healthy, same thing for guilds with dead weight."

"No, it's not the same," Gray retorted hotly, "because they're not some fucking reptile's old discarded scales, they're people. Who work with you and maybe, for Mavis' alone knows what reason, trust you, and now you're planning on what?"

"Launching them straight out the nearest window." Bright white teeth flashed menacingly.

Something about Gray must truly bring out the worst in the boy, because his grin vanished at Juvia's words, "The Element Four are the pillars of our guild."

Black Steel's expression was flat. "Not after I'm done with this list, they won't be."

The ensuing silence only lasted a moment, just long enough for his indignation to flare up again, "And you're ok with this?" Gray turned his attention to The Rain Woman, "You're cool with your buddies getting a boot? What about when it happens to you? When you're considered the weakest link? Are you gonna walk out with a grin when Jose cuts you like a too long thread?"

"Can't focus on that." Gajeel cut in with a shrug that didn't look as careless as Gray was sure he'd intended, "All that matters is that today, it ain't us. And if we wanna be able to say that t'morrow," he nodded towards the list, "we keep our noses clean and listen when we get a special assignment."

His gaze settled on Juvia with a specific, unspoken weight.

For the bluenette's part, her mouth moved wordlessly for a moment, fingers going to her throat, only to find it empty and moving to the ends of her hair, "Gajeel-kun is not the best listener," She began, "Maybe this is a list of hardest workers? Perhaps Jose-sama wants to honor them. A party!"

Even Gray knew she was reaching for the stars on that one.

For all his faults, Gajeel didn't burst her bubble. He stood with a shake of his head and walked right by her, taking back his list and giving her hair a quick ruffle before stomping the rest of the way out of the dungeon.

Just because he'd left didn't mean Gray's temper had cooled. Juvia seemed to notice.

"Are you really angry?"

"Hell yeah," His mouth was set in a straight line, answer immediate, "I don't understand you people, I really don't."

She dabbed at the wetness still clinging to her lashes, and mumbled, "We're just people…"

Gray scoffed, "If you were, you'd understand giving your guild mates a dignified exit. You'd understand compassion." He slammed the lid of his cookie tin with more force than was called for. "Fairy Tail would never do something like this."

A small noise in the back of Juvia's throat had him turning his heat her way, "Are you calling me a liar?"

The bluenette pulled her lip in, searching his face a moment before she relented, "No. Juvia believes you. It's just… Fairy Tail is hardly the poster of morality."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning… Well, your idea of right and wrong it's well documented and… Juvia thinks it should be called into question when you're judging others."

His eyes narrowed further.

"Juvia feels… you may be speaking out of both sides of your mouth when you reference your guild. You're no angel–"

"Really?" He challenged, "Give me an example, then."

The Rain Woman sighed, "Juvia didn't say that to upset y–"

"No! You think we're awful. You just said it."

"Please, don't be dramatic, that's not how Juvia feels–"

"Don't back down now, three examples!" Gray was on his haunches, slamming his fist into the palm of his hand as if he were producing a sword, "That's all I'm asking for. You're about to leave your teammates out in the mud, no words passed between you, even though you know what's about to happen to them; all those years must have meant a lot less to you then to them, and on top of that you have the nerve to judge Fairy Tail so I wanna know gives The Rain Woman p–"

"FINE." Her outburst has been so sudden and unexpected Gray jumped out of skin, mid-rant. He collapsed back on the cot, while Juvia smoothed her hair.

"Last July, Dreyer-san, your guild master, took a trip to wine country, drank himself into a stupor, super-sized himself and stomped every grape in the winery, including those still on the vine. With that little accomplishment under his belt, he bathed in the river, leaving it dry, burned the surrounding forest and was found the next morning suckling off a cow's teat on a neighboring farm. He was hospitalized for three weeks after downing 14 gallons of raw milk and disappeared shortly after the medical bill was presented to him. Of the medical debt and property damage, not a single jewel has yet been repaid."

"Well–" Gray tried, but as he wasn't aware of this story, he faltered. He wanted to call her a liar, but that story sounded so much like Gramps. She didn't know him; there was no way she could have made it up.

She continued.

"A middle-aged man, Juvia can't remember his name, pasted photographs of himself – all of himself – around a small rural town populated only with women, declaring that he was plenty fertile and more than willing to change their census data for the better."

"Yes, but–" His tone held none of the conviction it did, even ten seconds ago, now. "His wife had just left him an–"

She wasn't finished, the bluenette started counting off her fingers, "Then there was the Hargeon explosion last month, the Oshibana train station mishap – they're even considering relocating the main transportation hub to Crocus just because it's so far from Magnolia. Of course, Juvia can't forget there was a disaster by the mountain range just outside of the Guild Master's Meeting that Jose-sama attended just over a fortnight ago – something about an assassin's guild and Fairy Tail's apparent hatred of musical instruments and a very angry trio of mountain destroying monst–"

"Alright!" Gray cried, feeling oddly embarrassed at how well informed this Rain Woman turned out to be.

It was hard to make his case when most of those incidents had made front page news in the last six months, accompanied by each individual fine, along with the guild's total debt to society…

"You asked for three." She shrugged.

She gave more than three.

The bluenette looked entirely too triumphant, she raised her chin as if she'd just been declared Empress of Earthland.

"Smug isn't a good color on you, you're not innocent, y'know."

"Juvia never said we were innocent, just that you shouldn't be so quick to judge. We all make mistakes."

"Yeah, but you can stop yours beforehand." His brow quirked while he examined her. "You could do the decent thing and let them know."

Her face revealed nothing.

The maker mage sighed, going back to his cookie tin.

"Captive-san, don't eat those!"

"WHY?!"

"Because Juvia brought you ice cream." She went on brightly.

Gray tossed aside the box, eye twitching while he watched the bluenette pull another box from thin air, scooting towards him with an expression that showed she was unaware of his irritation.

"Now that your magic has returned.…" Her head tilted as a thought seemed to occur to her, "Well, Juvia isn't entirely sure how your's works…"

"I'm a maker mage."

"Ah."

Her face was blank, lack of understanding crystal clear.

"Basically," He opened his palm, allowing that wonderful, familiar feeling of cool that he'd been so without for too long, to grow out towards his fingertips, watching with Juvia as a magic circle began to take shape, "I can make different figures and sculptures out of ice."

From a cloud of white mist, a miniature version of his favorite apparition, Excalibur, began to form, slowly, for effect.

The handle had barely appeared before she was upon him, eyes wide, mouth formed in a little ' o', as if she were too mesmerized to remember to gasp out loud.

"You can make things?" She whispered.

The bluenette reached forward, only to pull back, as if just by touching it, she'd somehow manage to break the enchantment.

He hadn't expected such a little thing to impress her so thoroughly, "This is nothing."

"Why would you say that?" She looked almost hurt, like he'd put her down or something. "It's…"

She was at a loss for words.

"I learned this from a master of maker magic," Gray explained, "and she had another pupil. He claimed to be a prodigy, and he was such a pompous ass I'd love to disagree, but his style– He can make living things – bears, birds, explosive mice – and he's insufferable about it. It's considered a more refined kind of maker magic. He can do it one handed, which isn't advisable, you'll blow yourself to the moon doing unstable magic like that, but he was willing to take the risk, and I guess… it paid off."

Gray wasn't too bitter about how things had turned out for them, he supposed deep down they both sorta got what they wanted. And as far as mental stability went, Gray felt he was leagues beyond Lyon.

But still, sometimes he could admit to himself the twinge of envy he'd felt, watching his fellow pupil make magic beyond him, even if he believed in Ur's method above anyone else. Just a few times, he'd wondered what-if.

"What do you specialize in?" Juvia didn't seem to share any of his cynicism. She'd inched past the rune barrier, eyes locked on the little sword like it held her hypnotized.

"Weapons mostly. I can make a wall of ice, but so can most six year olds. I've gotten a little too complacent in my own skills, I should have expanded by now. I'm sure everyone in Fiore knows of the ice wizard from Fairy Tail. It would be nice if I could hit them with something they've never seen before."

"Juvia's never seen anything like this before." She whispered with something akin to longing.

His face felt hot for some reason, maybe because he's never had anyone gush over him so openly before.

Or at all. "I mean, we did fight on the rooftop," He chuckled, trying to push down his embarrassment, "I know it didn't last long, it wasn't really my best work up there, but you saw."

She looked up at him with a small smile, "It's one thing to see something in passing during a fight, and it was beautiful then too, but…"

"Yeah, well, I'm glad you think it's impressive."

"Juvia does!"

"Ur – that's my old master – she used to say that no two ice wizards were the same, even twins have their own unique magical fingerprint, just like snowflakes. She also used to say the only thing that limits a maker mage is their imagination. That's why I have to learn more, to make her proud… To see just how far her teachings will take me. Maybe crave out something beyond what she ever imagined."

Juvia blinked, and Gray watched as understanding lit behind her eyes. "She died."

His throat wouldn't allow words to pass through, so he just nodded.

"And you loved her very much."

He nodded twice as fast, mostly hoping nothing embarrassing would leak from his eyes with her so close, "Hm."

"Juvia wishes… It must be lovely to create such beautiful magic."

Gray thought back to what he knew of the Rain Woman, and he saw no reason why she couldn't learn. As a matter of fact, she could be perfectly dispositioned for it, given her relationship with water. "I could teach you."

She grasped his wrist so suddenly he almost lost focus on the magic in his palm, "Would you really?"

"Yeah, if y'know you don't go to jail for the whole kidnapping thing–"

She burst out laughing, breaking the odd tension, for which Gray was relieved.

"–I mean, after all that, y'know the trial, working off your sentences, yeah, I could teach you. You're good with water, learning ice magic would just be focus plus creativity, it should be a piece of cake."

"To learn this… It would make it all worth it."

He didn't really know what she meant by that. Perhaps her magic hadn't come as naturally to her as ice had to Gray, "Was it hard, learning the water body thing?"

"No."

She didn't say a word beyond that.

"Uh, well, the way I learned," Gray began, wanting to fill up the odd silence that had descended, watching as a shadow passed over her eyes, "it was on the Northern Continent. It's always cold there, unlike here, so getting your body adjusted to the cold temperatures that this requires, making your magic kinda call out to it, become one, that might be your biggest challenge. The weather in Oaktown and Magnolia is a bit too unpredictable, so it'll be a bit more difficult…" His voice faltered, as her mood only seemed to darken further.

"Yes." She agreed woodenly, "The weather is rather unpredictable."

He gaped at her, unable to understand how she was so upset, so suddenly. "Did I–? Did I say something wrong? Juvi–?"

Suddenly, she pressed a box into his chest, startling him enough to release Excalibur in a burst of tiny shards.

He landed on his back, blinking in confusion, before Gray understood what she'd passed to him. The ice cream.

"Please keep those cold!"

Gray sat up quickly, ruffling his hair as he watched her tie knots into the ends of her own.

What the hell–?

Placing the ice cream behind his cot with the cookie tin and unwilling to let the moment go, he said, "If you don't want to learn–"

"Juvia does, more than anything!"

She seemed genuine enough. "Well, if the problem is having me as your teacher, you c–"

"Juvia would be delighted if it were you."

Gray scratched at his neck; no matter where he looked at it, he couldn't iron out an answer to her behavior.

"Give me your hand."

She looked at him like he'd asked her to disrobe.

He put out his palm, waiting for her to comply, "Our magic is kinda compatible, so maybe you could get a taste of it right now if I give you a boost, see if this is something you'd actually like to try."

Crawling back up to his cell, she placed her hand in his, "Captive-san really thinks this will work?"

"I'm just giving you a nudge," He wasn't expecting much, it's not like they were trying for something crazy, like a Unison Raid. "I know you're made of water, but can you summon some, too?"

She nodded.

He waited, expecting another magic circle, but what happened instead was something he'd never seen before. The middle of her palm seemed to expand upwards, like it was a balloon being pumped full of air. He watched, entirely nonplussed, as her hand became transparent and then the blob disconnected, leaving her hand whole and a perfect circle of water floating above it.

"Ok, now what?"

Gray cleared his throat, trying to fix his face into something that saw what she'd done as an everyday occurrence, not even worth taking a second glance.

It was harder than it should have been.

He cupped the back of her hand, trying to focus, "Now just try to accept me. You'll feel my magic in a s–"

"Oh!"

Little patterns began to form in the sphere of water, as Gray pushed his cold upwards, freezing it as best he could.

"Yeah, but you're keeping it liquid, see? So fight your instincts a little an– There."

For just a moment the whole thing froze, reflecting light from Gray's magic and the candlesticks around them like a prism. It spun slower, collecting and refracting the light, before bursting back into its liquid form.

It hadn't taken much magic to do it, but he'd been holding his breath without realizing it; he felt strangely winded. Inhaling deeply, he said, "We could try again, now that you understand better, we might be able to make it la–"

"Yes, absolutely."

They tried three more times, each attempt lasting longer than its predecessors.

He was going to ask if she wanted to call it quits or maybe practice on her own, but on the fourth try, Juvia intertwined their fingers and he felt something, almost like a pull from within, at the very center of his magic. Gray was too stunned to speak, it felt like something was being reshaped, braided–

The little ball grew to the size of a small melon.

"Why did it do that?" Juvia whispered, brows dipped, frustration clear, "Now there's some unfrozen water floating around it."

Indeed, little rivulets sparkled and dashed around delicate paths carved into an ice shell, traveling around and inside it's transparent walls.

She looked up at him, eyes imploring, "Please be patient, Juvia is trying to keep it frozen."

Gray shook his head. Did she not feel–?

"So. This is how I find you."

The ball exploded.

Gray and Juvia both whipped their heads towards the end hall to find Jose Porla standing right upon them, eyes slitted and teeth bared in rage.

xGx

Juvia ripped her hand from his immediately, jumping back as if she'd been burned by his touch. She didn't stop until she was on the far side of the corridor, her back pinned to the bars of the cell opposite his.

Color leached from her face as if she'd been bled dry, while her eyes went wide, almost impossibly so, taking in the man standing over her.

Jose swooped down and pulled her by the nape of her shirt, some of her hair getting caught in his fist when he hauled her to her feet. " This is how I find you?" He repeated, screeching, "Giggling and simpering with Makarov's trash, are you?

" No–!"

" Playing footsie?"

"Ju– Juvia wasn't–!"

"Bouncing around the guildhall like a common trollop! When I heard I didn't believe, but your audacity goes further than that even! Baring yourself before an imbecilic halfwit of Makarov's ilk?"

"Jose-sama, Juvia didn't–!"

"Did he push you to it, or was it your idea?"

"Jo–"

He started shaking her, "Use your words!"

"She'd be able speak if you didn't have your hands at her fucking throat!" Gray roared, slamming his hands on the barrier as if it would give way, if only for that moment. "The shirt's cutting off her air! Damn it, Jose, let her go!"

Jose rounded on him, looking ready to throw his rage Gray's way, who was more than ready to take it on, but Juvia's whimpers interrupted them, "There was no– Juvia didn't have a choice. When she'd returned, there was nothing left besides... This was all that was left. Juvia looked, she swears she did."

Jose released her and she stumbled back, eyes wet and cheeks dampened. His red-black lips were curled in disgust, "I should have known."

Her knees were shaking so hard it was a wonder they could keep her up.

"Do you so easily forget who you are? Because a couple of ruffians steal your clothes, you just lay down and let them have it?" His eyes seemed to bulge then, as if her not immediately responding was sin reincarnated, " Well? Do you!?"

Dark blue eyes were pinned to the floor and Gray could see from where he was that she was in something akin to shock, but her voice came out steadily, albeit quiet, "No, Master."

"I don't know where it ends with you." His voice had become equally muted, yet his words bounced off the walls, echoing his sentiment. "You continue to disappoint, prove yourself time and time again to be unteachable, unwilling to stand with pride. To present yourself as a mage worthy of…. Anything.

Pulling out a handkerchief, Jose tossed it her way. She missed and it landed on the floor by her feet. She was so frazzled it took a few tries before she managed to pick it up.

He sighed, "You embrace your own mediocrity, it turns my stomach, Juvia, it really does. My continued faith in you may prove fatal, not only for you and your future, but for the health of the guild in which you stand."

Juvia sniffed, but no tears fell; her hands were balled into fists as if will alone was keeping them at bay.

"Do not step foot in this dungeon until you are presentable, do you understand me?"

"Yes, Jose-sama."

"Short of public execution I want you to do whatever it takes to get your clothes back. And do not go whining to them," his tone took on a nasty, mocking wheeze, "like a petulant child that I told you to tell them to give them back. Behave like you belong here. Get them on your own merit."

"Yes, Jose-sama."

"Begone from my sight."

"Yes, Master."

"Mindless, insipid girl," He spat after her scurrying form. Only when she had left did he then turn to Gray, his brow raising when he looked him over. "And what are you doing?"

It took a moment for the maker mage to realize he was on his feet, fists pressed against solid, frozen air and bright purple runes that disappeared and reappeared like little warning signs, breathing heavily as if he'd been in a fight.

"Sit down, boy," Jose ordered impatiently, stalking from one end of the hall to the other, eyes still aflame, "I have some questions for you, and you will not be weaseling out of them this time."

xGx

The quiet that had descended upon the dungeon was of the sticky, unpleasant kind that normally would have razed Gray's skin like a real flame, the discomfort so thick it felt like a living thing taking up space in his lungs, but at the moment almost felt like it was emanating from him. From the ball of black, undiluted hatred that he could feel, pumping through him like unfiltered bile.

He didn't try to shake it off, but it was competing to stay relevant to the forefront of his mind, because at the same time fear had taken a hold of his insides, and he didn't really know what to make of it.

He prefered to hold onto the hatred.

Gray watched, seated but positioned as if he could pounce at any moment, while Jose continued his pacing, the jingle of his asinine shoes grating on the ice mage's nerves.

At that moment, the justly vilified guild master stopped, pulled in a deep breath and asked, "How much money has Miss Lucy Heartfilia given to Fairy Tail since she became a member?"

Gray gaped at him like he was stupid, anger momentarily forgotten. "You wanna know about our guild dues?"

This was the third question? This was what he'd wanted to speak about?

Gray thought back to Black Steel and his kill list assignment.

What was he, taking notes? Did he need a basis to compare to in order to offer competitive rates and lure in new members?

"Alright." Gray shrugged, now almost positive he could never be a super villain, their methods and priorities were just too odd to keep up with.

"I mean, it's not different for Lucy," Gray began, almost mesmerized by his own befuddlement, "Officially it's 10%, that's what we agree to when we become a member. If you buy half a month's meals or more from the guild, it's pulled down to 7%. S-Class missions, Decade Quests, 100 Year Quests, and/or missions with rewards over J50,000,000 are 5%. If you're having a hard time, y'know haven't gotten work in a while, obviously Gramps is willing to work you–"

"No, you blithering idiot, I couldn't care less about that!"

Gray pulled back, as if he'd been slapped.

He'd let him go on like that, all that time, and he didn't even want to know–! " Then what do you want?!"

He wished this hateful old man would leave, Gray could say with no amount of sarcasm that he prefered Gajeel's company to this chuckle-head. He'd trade in a heartbeat.

The veins in Jose's neck made a thorough appearance as the geezer spluttered so hard, the ice mage wished Juvia would have thought to ban spittle from getting through the rune barrier, too. "I want to know how much of Lucy Hearfilia's money has been given to Fairy Tail and by extension, Makarov's private crusades!"

"..."

Jose mistook his stunned silence for something else, "Out with it boy!" He snapped, both in tone and with his fingers under Gray's nose, "The Heartfilia girl, how much wealth has Makarov extracted while she's been under his tutelage?"

"I–"

Gray was so inclined to lie through his teeth, to make up fairy tales, spin a deliberate web of lies that would make most story masters take notes, instead his anger got the best of him and he bit out the truth, "No one knew Lucy was rich until a week ago."

"Preposterous." But the old man's tone wasn't as animated as it'd been a moment before, " We had her last week, you're insinuating Makarov was none the wiser until Phantom made our move?"

"Yeah, I've been here… Six, seven days? The day I was taken, that morning was when you dumbasses showed up on our beach. That's when we found out, after Natsu brought her back and she was crying and blubbering about lying to the entire guild."

Which… Gray has been at Fairy Tail a long time, and he knew Lucy hadn't, that was the only excuse he could come up with, because omitting the fact she came from money was by far the lamest lie ever told on Fairy Tail's grounds.

Forget cracking the Top Ten, it didn't hit in the Top Ten Million.

Off the top of his head, Cana ' incorrectly' predicting that Freed's first kiss would come only after he'd done a whiskey shot out of the belly button of his one true desire, and watching from afar while he'd followed an unsuspecting Laxus around with a shot glass and travel size bottle until the blonde boy finally lost his patience and set him flying across the hall would always be a personal favorite.

The week Macao had paraded around a different woman every day and declared them to be Romeo's real mother, in a failed attempt to brush off his wife leaving him without a word, only to break down in slobbery, snotty tears when his son reminded him that Mama isn't blonde, also pretty memorable.

About a month after Gray'd first joined, one of the older members, a middle-aged guy who'd left years ago now, returned from a job with a potted plant and told him, Cana and Laxus, that if they watered it everyday for three months a wish granter would be born and give them anything their heart desired. By the time those three months had passed Erza, Levy, Jet, Droy, and Natsu had all joined the guild, and were equally invested in the growth of their very own genie.

Days were dedicated to their wishes and wording, the benefits and potential drawbacks on society that their shortsightedness could have on not only their world, but worlds they weren't even aware of yet.

Turns out, it was basil.

(Deep down, Gray held onto the belief that the lighting user had only chosen that medium because it guaranteed the maximum amount of pain to anyone who tried to play him for a fool in the future. As for the old man, to be honest, the ice mage wasn't 100% sure the blonde hadn't tracked the poor guy down and hunted him like a wild rabbit.)

Levy constantly read dirty novels in front of everyone. Gray wasn't sure that counted as a lie, but it sure as hell wasn't morally on the up and up.

Makarov told people he was six foot one inch tall, all day everyday, and if that wasn't the biggest lie–!

Anyway, everyone had been kind of out it at the time, with Gramps falling ill thanks in part to the bastard standing before him, Team Shadow Gear still being in the infirmary, Erza choosing to retreat for the first time in living memory, and the guild hall still being in shambles.

Overall, morale had been at an all time low, that's why they'd let Lucy have her time sobbing it out, even when they all knew none of it was really her fault – the rift between their two guilds had been ticking for some time by then – it was just too many blows at once to take in.

That being said, again, Earthland's least noteworthy lie.

"Look," While he couldn't say he'd made a full recovery from his shock, Gray's snark managed to pull through like it always did, "if you honestly believe Lucy paid to be in our guild, then I'm inclined to let you, because that kind of stupid doesn't just wash out with soap and water."

Jose shook his head, still unconvinced, "I know Makarov better than you. I know him and all his little tricks, his unfettered greed. A prize like that… Certainly, he knew. Was it clever of him to have her parade around like a commoner, dress like a harpy? Perhaps…" Suddenly his pacing picked up double time, words flowing from him in a rush, "That's it, isn't it? It was all an act, he made the girl perform before as a mindless little female, innocent and easily underestimated, while they mined the Heartfilia treasure trove all for themselves! That's the heart of why her father wants her back, she is pillaging the company right from under him!" Jose stilled, attention now on the ice mage, "I'm right, aren't I?"

"Maybe," Gray grunted, his irritation seeming to double rather than recede. At this point he was certain Jose hadn't been right about anything in quite a few decades, "but let me tell you something, for a rich girl – or secret rich girl, as you're so inclined to believe – she's really good at the whole poverty thing." And good thing too, because she still owed him J1600 for the three rice balls and strawberry milk tea she'd claimed she couldn't afford damn near three weeks ago now.

It would have been insensitive to demand the money back the moment they all found out she was a blue-blood, given the circumstances and violence, but the time would come and soon, it's not like he had any family back home, rolling in dough.

Gray was actually still kinda peeved that she'd turned out to be loaded… While he thought Jose's theory was about as sensible as drinking milk left out in the sun, Gray wouldn't be mad if the pair had actually managed to pull off such a heist, especially if they were willing to break him off a piece…

But again, it was all horse shit.

"–nd that was just when we were twelve–!"

The ice mage shook himself a little, now completely lost, "Have you been talking this whole time?"

See, the real problem with this whole interrogation scenario was, Jose liked to talk more than Gray liked to listen, so there was about a four minute window where no sound bypassed the ice mage's ear to his brain, strictly because his subconscious refused to digest even one more word from the insufferable man.

Jose ran his tongue across his teeth in irritation, the color somehow making his flesh appear unnaturally sallow, almost waxy in both texture and complexion.

He leaned forward suddenly, startling Gray, "Be honest now," In a strange turn of events, the old man's tone had taken on an almost honeyed lit to it, "would you consider yourself… a well-informed member of your guild?"

Gray paused, like he was stumped by the question, and in truth, he sort of was; it had come out of left field.

"Let me rephrase," the old man lifted a hand, as if to stop him from answering, though the ice mage was still a little too dumbstruck to give a reply yet, "When new, world changing information is presented to Makarov, are you the first pair of ears he turns to?"

Again, Gray was quiet.

Jose nodded, "Certainly, but you must be the second?"

Discomfort began to twist at his stomach, but he couldn't understand where it was coming from; he was no more afraid than he'd been when he'd first met Phantom's master.

A sardonic smile graced Jose's lips, his dull ruby eyes remaining cold, "Third?"

Gray shook his head.

"I didn't think so," the old man breathed. He spun on the sole of silly, curly-toed shoes, mood seeming to sour as the seconds ticked on, "We're done here."

Gray watched him go as far as his position would allow, internally debating calling the geezer back. What held his tongue was the worry still wriggling in his gut, the fact he couldn't identify what was causing it.

He wasn't worried for himself – far from it, now that his health had returned to about 90% he was well and truly ready to fight his way to freedom.

For a moment he considered Lucy – Jose had come all the way down here just to discuss her after all, certainly there must be something there?

But again, he was able to dismiss the idea, Lucy was nowhere near them, she was probably so far removed from danger at the moment, her kidnapping could be considered an old nightmare by now. Even if she somehow managed to stumble across Phantom Lord's mindless trek around Fiore, he doubted she'd do it alone. And with the rest of the guild behind her, honestly Gray would feel a little worried for Juvia and the rest–

His stomach dipped again.

Juvia? That's what he was worried about?

A part of him wanted to remain dismissive, it would be nice if some of his snark reared it's head again, but he knew, not even deep down, that it was her that had his stomach in knots. That they'd been that way since she'd left, scurrying around her own guild master like he was a live mine.

After the way he'd treated her…

Gray was still in a sort of suspended disbelief that he'd witnessed that. That she didn't fight back.

That she'd left, and intended to return.

To continue doing the bidding of a man who would rough handle her like that, purposely humiliate her.

No, he didn't have to wonder any longer why his stomach was behaving the way it was.

But even before that had happened…. It was an odd thing to come to terms with, but the more time he spent with the bluenette, the more concern he began to feel.

And not for himself anymore, he'd moved well past fearing that Juvia's intent was to harm him. Rather, he found himself wanting to look out for her; his mind often wandered, deeply concerned about her well-being when she was out of sight.

There was no real way to explain it, but every time he was left to himself after interacting with her, he became more and more convinced that Juvia didn't belong here.

Whatever path Phantom planned on taking, perhaps darker than anything they were known for in the past, was at odds with the rain woman Gray was starting to get to know.

It was almost like she was in a poisonous fog, and because she had no knowledge of anything outside of it, she began to embrace it, even while it was choking the life out of her.

On paper, his distress made no sense.

He knew for a fact, Juvia was the one who'd brought him here, and based on the tidbits he'd pieced together from the others, she'd made that decision unilaterally and impulsively.

The rest of the guild seemed to be stuck, piecing together how to make his being here useful and to their advantage.

But truth be told, he felt no direct animosity towards her anymore.

Not in the way his blood ran ice cold, wanting to call on his magic more than ever, when Jose bothered to show up, grandstanding even when Gray could see he was floundering for an actual plan of success.

Not like the dismissive anger he'd felt each time Gajeel Redfox made an appearance.

Maybe it was because he knew, if she were so inclined, she could have really hurt him, but instead treated him with open consideration and compassion that exposed a more sweet-tempered person underneath the terrifying reputation that swirled around her.

Or maybe it was just her eyes.

He didn't have words for all that he saw there when she wasn't speaking, but he saw a lot…

Then again, it could be that he was just an idiot, wanting to believe there was something more under the surface.

Sure they'd shared a moment before, but…

He could very well be playing directly into her hand; maybe she was the brains behind this whole operation, using kindness and faux vulnerability to pull at his heartstrings for her own gain.

There were only two problems with this theory that nearly made it unfeasible.

Number 1: As Jose had quietly summarized before, Gray was damn near an empty vessel, a grunt if you will. He didn't know much about his guild – not the inner workings and secrets that is – that couldn't easily be found via a trip to the local library. There were far more valuable members who could have supplied that information; if that's what she genuinely wanted when she'd cornered him that day, she should have known to point her resources elsewhere.

But even more importantly than that was Number 2: it was really hard to fake that kind of unvarnished loneliness.

Her eyes weren't lying about that, at least…

xGx

Juvia returned about an hour later, fully dressed in the same style of clothes he'd met her in, not an inch of skin visible beyond her hands and face. A tall, fur trimmed hat covered her ears and upper forehead, and her hair had gone back to the stiff coiff at her shoulders. Just like before, it remained completely unmoved, even as she stooped down and sat on the floor before him.

Her face was oddly vacant, or rather, her eyes were. They were blank, not quite hollow, as if she'd caught a glimpse of something supernatural, but hadn't seen enough to know for sure if she should be frightened.

She smiled, but it was robotic, not meeting her eyes. Lifting her arms up, Gray noticed she was carrying something.

More food.

"Juvia has made soup." She began, placing the bowl and utensils before his cot along with a cup and jug. "Unfortunately it's rather simple this time: mushrooms, spinach, a bit of green onion, and the last of the miso paste. And there's only water in there," She motioned to the jug, "Juvia cannot apologize more for the humble meal."

She was always apologizing, "It's fine, lis–"

"Earlier… she made a rather silly miscalculation with the ingredients, and now Juvia fears there won't be enough for you to eat tonight. Tomorrow… Heavens, there isn't even any dessert!" She lifted the tray then, as if hoping a bowl of pudding would materialize from thin air beneath it, and soothe her woes.

Gray huffed, trying to keep the gut feeling prickling his under skin from showing on his face, "I still have cookies, there's ice cream, look–"

"Well, Juvia supposed there's ice cream left," She muttered distantly; not like she was agreeing with him, more like the thought had suddenly occurred to her, "but as we're all out of – well almost everything – this is the best Juvia could scrap together… If we could just come across a market, but in the middle of Worth Woodsea, the odds are not good… Please," She motioned him urgently, "eat while it's hot, it's best that way."

She never paused, it was like she couldn't even hear him.

Gray ignored the food, scooting right up to the rune wall, "Did you run into Jose while you were up there?"

She blinked, but no clarity came to her eyes, "No."

"Did he bump into you?"

She shook her head, then her chin dropped like a limp doll and her gaze landed on his soup, "Captive-san should eat while it's hot."

Gray swallowed something that felt a lot like panic, "Juvia, you're scaring me."

"Juvia never means to frighten," Her head tilted, but he noticed some life had returned just then, a little color, "Jose-sama was right to reprimand her, it's just… Juvia doesn't always handle it well. But he was right, Juvia forgot who she was…"

He let the silence hang for a moment, until he couldn't handle it anymore, "Did your guildmates really steal your clothes?"

More color bloomed on her cheeks, though this appeared to have more to do with embarrassment than life.

Gray knew better than to compare this to his experiences at Fairy Tail, instinctively. While pranks were a common occurrence there, stealing someone's else's clothes being one of the milder ones he could think of, there was a rather prominent unspoken rule in their pranks, not spoken aloud simply because it was so obvious.

No one was going to come running into the guildhall screaming Igneel was outside, waiting for Natsu.

Because that would be a shitty thing to do, knowing how much the pinkette loved and missed his dragon dad.

Fairy Tail never had to sit down, all together, and remind everyone that unnecessarily cruel, psychological warfare was not allowed when pulling pranks.

Whether of her own volition, or more likely, Jose's needling her, Juvia did not seem at all comfortable with her body. So taking her clothes and forcing her to run around the whole guild, doing her duties in nothing more than an oversized shirt – that was a shitty thing to do. That was unnecessarily cruel.

It had nothing to do with whether Gray or anyone else thought she was plenty covered, it was clear the bluenette hadn't been comfortable. And if he had to guess, her guildmates had known her long enough to know just how much it would mess with her. Just how unkind Jose would be when he saw her.

The ice mage watched while Juvia's fingers pulled down her coat, over an already covered knee.

She tilted her chin, then, "The soup."

The maker mage lifted his spoon, but that was only so he'd have something to strangle.

"Did Black Steel know?" If that skulking son of a bitch has anything to do with it, Gray would gladly come up with some pretty creative forms of punishment. But Juvia shook her head, almost amused.

"If Gajeel-kun found out, he would…" Her eyes roamed the ceiling as if looking for the right word to describe the dragon slayer's penchant for violence, "...not be nice."

"Because… this happens often." He'd intended it to be a question, but quickly realized it was a statement of fact. "The people here, they treat you like shit. Call you names."

Her lashes fluttered, dark eyes seeming to swallow the rest of her face, while she watched him mutely, clearly horrified.

"They call you a freak, among other things."

He'd let the moment slide earlier, but he did clock it, and he was sure it wasn't simply a coincidence that she had such a sensitivity to mild name-calling.

A few days ago, when he'd first arrived, Gray had joked to himself that Juvia shouldn't bother staying down here with him, watching like a hawk, instead she should spend time with her friends, didn't they miss her? It hadn't occurred to him that she may not have any friends upstairs waiting for her.

She looked so uncomfortable he wanted to change the subject. Instead he asked, "With your clothes, what about your group, the Element Four, wouldn't they have something to say about it? Make those other guys pay?"

Her lips moved but no sound came out and Gray realized with a start that either no she couldn't depend on them to defend her, or worse, they were some of the ones who had taken them in the first place.

Her expression turned evasive, "They're still on the mend, Juvia couldn't ask…"

Right.

She couldn't ask them for help.

Funny. Because, over the last six days and nights, people came down here time and time again, but they never seemed to be there for Juvia, rather they came down because they'd needed something from her. That, or they were forced to pass on information and instructions.

The only person who seemed to come down purely because they wanted to spend time with Juvia was Gajeel.

Gray shook his head, determined to rid himself of the sinking feeling his stomach had descended into. Maybe he was misreading this. Maybe a couple members were mad at being stuck in the guild, and were blaming her right now, giving her the cold shoulder, but on the daily they were thick as thieves.

Maybe Gray was just sitting in the midst of one their rough patches, but they'd all move on together, stronger than e–

You know what, honestly, he couldn't have convinced a flea of that, why was he trying to fool himself?

Now that her clothes had returned, Gray noticed the little cloth doll at her neck was also back. He remembered she slept with it last night, and he wondered with no small amount of anger when they'd taken that too.

Unaware of his thoughts, she fiddled with it and whispered, "Please eat."

Gray released his death grip on the spoon, and noted that while it was now a little twisted, it was still in perfectly working order, and pulled the soup towards him.

Truth be told, he wasn't all that hungry, he felt more inclined towards doing something, taking some action, of any kind. But the moment the spoon touched his mouth Juvia appeared to wilt with gratitude, genuinely pleased, so he tried to console himself with that.

Funny, three days ago he would have wondered if her relief was tied to poisoning him, but he knew her a little better than that now.

Her whole face appeared to have brightened, "Is it good?"

He nodded.

She looked pleased but that expression quickly clouded, "But you don't like hot food, and it's already warm down here… Juvia wasn't thinking, she should have given you ice cubes on the side, at least." She ripped the bowl from him, stacking it back on the tray, along with the jug of water, "When Juvia returns you'll be able to eat this like a popsicle–!"

He grabbed the bowl back, "Why're you so worried about what other people like?"

"What are–"

He set down the bowl with a snap, "I think you should join Fairy Tail."

He'd seen her surprised plenty of times, but this was the first time he had to wait and watch her work through her own muteness, " What?"

Gray could understand why she felt this was from somewhere way out in left field, but it had been in the back of his mind since Gajeel had brought up the kill list, maybe even before.

"Jose is an abusive piece of shit," He said plainly, "you're loyal to a guy who thinks you aren't worth much and you're worth even less once your knees are exposed to air. You're running around here – I don't even know if you care about this war, you sure as don't act like, not the way you treat me. You have this mindless sense of duty–"

"Do not call Juvia mindless, she is not–!" The shock had worn off, now replaced with real hot anger. Gray, in turn, had cooled. "You don't know her well enough to say such things!"

"Did you like being dragged by your hair," he challenged, unfazed by her attitude, "did that make you feel good, when he made you cry?"

She looked like she wanted to punch him.

That was fine. "If you joined Fairy Tail–"

"Juvia would never!"

He nodded to show he'd heard her, not that he'd believed her, "When you join, I can vouch for you, it'll smooth this whole thing over between us. No one's gonna hold what you did against – well, I can't speak for Lucy, but–"

Steam, real and hot, began to billow from under the little cape at her shoulders, wafts of it pouring out, so powerful his face started to warm as it filled his cell, "Juvia does not need your charity, do not even fix your mouth to lie for her–!"

"It wouldn't be a lie."

Mistakes had been made on her part, yeah, he could be honest and admit that, but no one else appeared to be the way they were because they were trying to waft their way through a mistake; they were vicious by choice.

The only time she had actually hurt him was with that water hose move, and he knew now that she really had panicked and tried to get him a glass of water the fastest way she knew how. Because she thought he was choking.

He said as much, but it only seemed to push her further towards the edge. It was like she was a tea kettle, the heat only picking up as her frustration grew, now strong enough to throw her hair into wild waves and tangles.

He remained where he was, impassive.

"Phantom is going to lose." Gray continued, "I think somewhere, you know this. I just don't want you to get dragged down with the bastards who would call you names, hide your clothes and humiliate you in public for cheap laughs at your expense. Phantom doesn't need you and y–"

"Enough!" Her eyes were ablaze now, "The only problem here is that you underestimate Juvia!"

Gray blinked back slowly.

"Of course Phantom Lord needs her!" She raged, "You think you understand? You've been here six days, you know nothing of Juvia! Nothing of what she's done. What she is capable of! So prepare yourself, because we will defeat you and make you regret the day you crossed paths with us!"

With a look a white-hot fury, she turned on her heel and stalked out of the dungeon, the slam of the door reverberating long after she left, while he was left to clean up soup now blown all across his front.

xGx

Now that Gray was an orphan–

And he was. If you don't see your parents for six full days, unannounced, unplanned, you were a certified un-parented child, that was the law.

They were edging on day seven now. Clearly, his guild had abandoned him.

That, or they just all had broken legs at the moment, and were shaking their fists at the sky, sobs wracking their bodies, convulsing on their own saliva in an infirmary somewhere, distraught that they had no way of getting to him.

But at this point, he was putting his money on the first thing.

Anyway, now that Gray was an orphan he needed to find new ways to occupy his mind away from his own abandonment and the Rain Woman provided just the distraction.

One, two, three, under. One, two, three, under. One, two, three, und–

"I don't care what kind of fruity-tooty language you throw at me, it ain't happening!"

Gray held in the sigh that seemed to have been trapped in his lungs for the last two hours, shook his head and continued.

One, two, three, under. One, two, t–

"Because we're going 85 miles an hour, Sol, ain't no pizza man got those kinda of skills!"

It was the dragon slayer who was fucking up the experience for him…

The bluenette has returned to him not too long after their little spat, quiet and huffy.

It was clear she'd intended to leave for much longer – her exit had been rather dramatic, he could admit – but something, perhaps even a mindless sense of duty, compelled her to return to him earlier than they both knew she'd wanted.

She sat as far from him as the little hallway would allow, arms and legs both crossed, just like her eyebrows, her expression showing him that she intended to ride out the rest of the night's watch with the two of them sitting in silence.

Unfortunately for her intentions, Gray was overcome at that exact same moment, to try and get to know Juvia better.

He'd looked her up and down for some time to try and come up with some question to ask her that had nothing to do with Phantom Lord or The Element Four.

Not to shore up any guilt, of course.

He genuinely believed Juvia should abandon her guild first chance she got, and he was more than happy to tell her to her face again. But he didn't want her to be so uncomfortable she'd give in to the urge to flee once more, so he'd asked her about the little doll tied to her neck.

"It's pretty cool, your ghost."

Juvia's head dipped quickly, as if unaware there was anything pinned to her neck, before she grabbed at it, unpinning it from her collar.

"Um…." He was not as proficient in small talk as he'd like to believe, "Do you buy them– Did you buy– buy it or–?" Why was this so hard? "Where'd you buy the doll?"

"Doll?" She repeated like it was a foreign concept, "No, no, they're talisman."

"Talisman?" She didn't seem all that religious. "For what?"

The bluenette opened her mouth, then shut it, then shrugged.

For a good few minutes she refused to speak, wouldn't even meet his eye, before she hopped up without warning and darted out of the dungeon.

Gray was left alone once again, feeling mildly put-out.

She was such a strange person. Whenever he wished she'd disappear, she was on him like glue, but the second he wanted her around, she was gone.

However, even faster than before she'd returned, standing in front of the rune wall that separated them, bent at the waist slightly in an unnecessary bow, eyes pinned to the floor as she rambled, "J-Juv-Juvia normally… hand-stitches her Teru-Teru… how-however she only br-brought crochet… There's needles, and filling, a-and butto– "

She cut herself off, shrugged, then shook her head roughly, like she was mentally revising her explanation as she gave it. "Crochet with yarn this big is easier to learn and will help pass the time." She stepped through the runes and placed the bag by his side. "Juvia will show you!" She declared, then pink bloomed on her cheeks and she muttered, "...If– If Captive-san is willing, of course…"

At the time, Gray had been a little startled, but his curiosity hadn't dimmed, so he nodded, waving her on to go full speed ahead with the lesson.

Juvia's hands blew through the first doll so fast, Gray was convinced she'd used magic to do it. The second doll came together slower, by his insistence, and he watched while her fingers twisted around the needle, between the yarn, the movement casual and uncomplicated.

Within fifteen minutes another doll had been born.

She showed him her collection of buttons, gathered from random and remote parts of Fiore when she's been on a job and come across a craft store, thrift shop, or found an abandoned jacket buried and forgotten in the sand.

Some dolls had legs, but that wasn't really traditional nor her preference, so instead she showed him how to make the little capes.

She assured him it was easy.

She told him a six year old could complete it, eyes closed.

She gave him his choice of yarn and needle, gave him a pat on the back and the solitude of his cell when she crossed to her side of the rune wall once again.

She'd bamboozled him, is what she did.

That had been three hours ago and he was still on the same Mavis-forsaken doll.

At this point the only thing motivating him was pure immoveable stubbornness, because he sure as hell wasn't as enthusiastic about carrying one around as he'd been when the sun was high and his dinner was fresh on his tongue.

Meanwhile, Juvia had built a four-inch army that was piled at her side, her eyes not even focused as she worked.

If didn't know her to be humble to a fault he would swear she'd been staring off into space while her needles flashed at the speed of light just to make him feel like talentless shit.

His doll, the poor thing, was armless, and no matter which way he twisted or turned it, he couldn't find the space to add them. His only option was pull it apart and start over again, something he was loath to do.

In truth, he was only delaying the inevitable, the lack of arms… It was no way to bring a child into the world, let alone leave it to fend for itself. It would starve to death.

If he kept abusing his little doll like this, someone was going to call the authoriti–

"Listen to me, if the little bitch could sprout wings and fly, why would he devote his life to delivering pizzas? He could do anything under the sun, but he cho…"

And if such authorities arrived, he knew exactly who he'd pin the blame on.

Gajeel had returned well after the pair of them had gotten started on their crafts. Through a muted exchange between the Phantom mages, he discovered the dragon slayer hadn't yet acted on his assignment, but he would and soon.

While this invisible timer seemed to tick away for him, he'd pulled out a lacrima, something Gray wouldn't even have taken note of if the mangy haired bastard hadn't made the unilateral decision to call every person who had ever occupied Earthland.

It was ridiculous. The son of bitch had been shouting for two hours straight, and as they all knew, sounded bounced and echoed down there, redoubling every inane word out of his mouth.

They couldn't hear the other side of the conversation, but they got to hear plenty of Black Steel's.

"Whaddya mean a passion project?!"

"Isn't he right upstairs?" Gray called out sweetly, already well aware of the answer. There was nowhere else to go from here, but up, "Wouldn't he rather feel the passion of your arguments face-to-face? I'm telling you from experience, something gets lost there when you use a lacrima to scream at your friends." He shook his needle at Black Steel in warning.

"I hope that rag you're piecing together is some kinda muzzle for yer boy toy," Black Steel gruffed towards the water maiden, pointedly ignoring him.

"Right, 'cause I need it."

"Nah, I'm talking to the Stripper. No matter how polite I ask, Ame-Onna ain't willing to budge on him, and now we gotta suffer through his little bitchings." Black Steel paused so the other person could respond, before he barked out a laugh, "Incest is probably encouraged where he's from."

Gray didn't bother looking up from his stitching, "Do you just say whatever pops into your head because you're so excited to have a thought every once in a while?" He snarked, tying off a rather rough knot, to keep as much stuffing in as possible, "If you feel obligated to share, let us know, we'll discourage you!"

"Oh," Juvia gasped, breaking her silence, "How did…?" Her voice trailed off, clearly bemused.

"Something wrong?" Gray asked, still not looking up.

"Umm…. Not necessarily."

Must she be so cryptic. By the time he'd raised his eyes, expression peeved, Juvia had already turned her attention to something else.

Another new doll, he realized with a start, watching as she ripped open a fresh pack of yarn.

She was really kicking his ass on this.

"Come off it, your country ain't real, Sol. Ya got that accent out the bottom of a cereal box." Gajeel chuckled, turning back to his lacrima. The sound was so genuine and unexpected, Gray actually looked up to stare. "Name one other person who's heard of France, I'll eat your crummy cheese if you manage it, gihee!"

The best way to handle an annoyance was to tune it out. That's how he managed Natsu, Elfman, and anyone else at the guild throwing one of their tantrums.

If he visualized Black Steel as just one of the lovable aggravating oafs he was used to, how hard would it be to treat him the same?

With this newfound philosophy, the maker mage reached for the little crate of supplies Juvia placed on his side – after all, she could reach through the barrier all she wanted – and dug in.

This distraction pointedly kept his mind occupied from inopportune gi-hees and rambunctious arguments to find the perfect buttons.

There was plenty of choice: bright silver ones, polkadot ones, a pair that looked like lemon meringue pie. Some glittered, others seemed to swallow light. Most resembled pearls in various sizes and shades.

Finally, he came across the perfect set: twins that looked nothing alike. One had a crescent moon nestled between puffy gray clouds on an indigo night, it's sibling was a brilliant sunny sky that seemed to radiate sunbeams no matter which way he turned it in the candlelight.

For some reason, he felt they were perfect. So of course, no sooner had he found them, than the cloudy night button slipped from his fingers like a buttered seed, onto the floor, dancing across his cell and out of reach while at the same time, reintroducing Black Steel's voice to him like a sledgehammer to the ear.

"Right, it's the mapmakers fault, sure, sure," He guffawed, "They're in on it with the geography teachers, no doubt."

Gray crawled after it quickly, body flat on the floor as it rolled away–

"Listen, it's almost five minutes t–"

–got within centimeters of it–!

"Yeah, yeah, I'll ask her. Later."

–and therefore had a crystal clear view when it rolled past the rune barrier, into the gutter and out of sight.

No one else seemed aware of the tragedy that took place.

"Oi, Puddle. If you're interested in watching a stranger plummet five stories just to bring us some food, Sol's getting pizza, whatchu want?"

The bluenette sighed, twisting her needle this way and that to secure a second button eye into place, as the knob of yarn she'd started with less than five minutes ago, became yet another fully-fledged doll.

Meanwhile, Gray was still on the one he'd originally started with.

The only advancement he'd managed was to ensure it no longer had prospects of a full depth of perception.

"Juvia is really not in the mood for pizza. Far too oily…" She mused, digging through her supply box for more buttons before she started again, "If it isn't too much trouble, would you mind calling him back and asking for some seafood ramen?"

"Ramen?"

"Yes, and if he does, please be sure they add the albino demon pepper sauce on the side, Juvia can't stand blan–"

"I just got through arguing with him about getting pizzas to a moving guild hall," he went on, studded brows disappearing beneath his messy hair, as he gazed at the Rain Woman incredulously. Insolation had done a number on his looks, his mane was wild, with more of it covering his face than when he'd initially met Gray, "At least it's stackable, enough to feed everyone here without breaking anyone's back. How the hell are you expecting soup noodles?"

Meanwhile, Gray was a bit more stunned he was sitting face-to-face with a person who'd not only consumed albino demon pepper sauce before, but seemed to deliberately add it to their food.

Black pepper was too strong for him most days.

"Well perhaps the delivery boy has trained in some form of lost magic that deals with creating portals across time and sp–"

"Nope. I'm not having this conversation again." Black Steel cut in, standing. "You've got five seconds to name a topping, otherwise you're eating what I'm eating."

"But Juvia cannot consume–!"

"Exactly." He grinned, unapologetic. "Tick-tock, Puddle."

"Oh! Juvia cannot decide. Captive-san, what do you prefer on pizza?"

He honestly thought she'd never ask, "My go-to is mushrooms with the onions and little bits of apple-maple sausage chunks caramelized until they're almost like candy, but if we're doing this on a budget–"

"The Stripper's vote don't count, this is a guild-only meal." Black Steel interrupted, picking at his teeth with a sharp nail, leisurely.

"Juvia is not a fan of that nickname, Gajeel-kun," the bluenette's brows dipped in disapproval, even while her eyes remained focused on her work, "She has already expressed this to you."

"I name 'em as I see 'em," Black Steel shrugged, though there was a tension in his face that undermined the casual nature of the gesture, "and what I saw yesterday was that stripper's balls."

"No one told you to stare."

Rune barriers were important.

Rune barriers saved lives.

When it became clear that death stares alone couldn't kill him, the violent man redirected his attention to the Rain Woman, "I'm checking on Sol. Make sure he doesn't throw away all our money on black truffles and celestial olive oil."

"Don't forget Juvia's sauce," she sang after him.

"I'll see what I can do."

Some of the tension in his back seemed to unravel at his exit. Gray released a grateful sigh, "It's a good thing he's an iron dragon slayer because if a bone dragon slayer were real I'd be the thing cleaning his teeth right now."

The bluenette pulled back, focus still on her hands, "Why do you think he would do something like that?"

She couldn't be serious. "Juvia, he hates me."

"Oh no, Juvia disagrees, Gajeel-kun appears to be quite fond of you."

Gray let out a scoff around his ice cream sandwich.

"No, it's true." She nodded, "Normally when he's at odds with another, he would never bother threatening them, as he's said many times before, that would just give them an opportunity to escape."

What a horrifying little man he was. "You ever think it's because I can't escape? Maybe he was just one of those freaks as a kid who hated bugs unless he had them trapped under a cup or magnifying glass." Making it all the easier to hurt them. "Now he's moved on to people."

"Juvia is more inclined to believe that he senses a bit of kinship with you, that even if the situation were different you wouldn't back down and avoid him out of fear. Instead you'd call him out, just as you have been doing." Her needle continued flashing under the dim light of the candles while she spoke, faster than Gray could ever hope to accomplish. "That's not something he's accustomed to, but it is something he craves. Juvia has gotten that sense for a while now, actually…"

"Well, as warm and fuzzy as that little character breakdown sounds, you can go ahead and tell him, the feeling isn't mutual."

The Rain Woman shrugged, "It's not like he realizes it himself, anyway. He's probably re-cataloged his ceaseless desire to keep coming down here as a means of torture. Gajeel-kun has never been quite honest about his feelings, not even to himself."

"You really care about him." Gray watched her face as she spoke, and as concern kept creeping up while she talked about the dragon slayer, like she was genuinely worried about his future and the path he was taking.

It was an odd thing to come to terms with, mostly because he kept forgetting Juvia wasn't on his side; she had far more loyalties to the people above them than to him, yet he couldn't quite shake the relaxed feeling of comradery that they seemed to descend into whenever they spoke.

She was surprisingly easy to talk to, it left the ice mage feeling openly relieved he didn't know any of his guild's secrets. He knew he would have blabbed by now, forgetting she wasn't one of them.

"Gajeel-kun is capable of much, he just doesn't… For some reason he just finds comfort in intimidation, as though that can protect him."

"But you see it differently?"

"He would be much better off if he sought out kindness," she nodded, "healed his own past wounds. Gajeel-kun is very capable. If he was so inclined, he could do a lot of good."

He held back his reaction a bit on that one.

Gray knew of at least three people who would disagree with the Rain Woman's assessment, if they weren't knocked out cold at Magnolia Medical, at the moment.

But he didn't say that, instead he redirected their conversation a bit, "And what about you?"

For a moment she didn't say anything, choosing instead to tug at the seams of her little doll, carefully checking that the head was secure, before moving on to each arm, in turn.

"The world is very cruel," Juvia answered seriously, "especially to those who are different. Adding more pain does not encourage happiness in anyone. While Juvia has not found any for herself yet, she has not quite reached the point where lashing out is the only response she can rely on," Reaching towards Gray, the bluenette pulled out the Button Bag, rifling through it for a moment before selecting a pair of sparkling silver ones. "There's more for her out there," she whispered looking up, eyes fixated, while Gray stared back just as steadily, "Of that, she's sure."

His fingers played with the needle he'd been given, twirling the points around his knee absently while he thought, watching the Rain Woman as she sniped the final thread and assessed her work with tender eyes.

"You're not gonna find it here," he blurted.

She blinked, but didn't look up, as though she wouldn't hear him if she didn't fully acknowledge him.

"I don't know what plans you've got going on, I don't know your role in all this, but I can tell you something, this guild won't make you happy, that isn't a priority."

Her jaw worked, twitching twice, "Juvia would rather not have this conversation again."

"Then don't talk, just listen." He leaned forward until the purple rune barrier between them was less than an inch from his nose, voice low so it wouldn't echo, "You don't know it yet, but a wizard guild doesn't have to be like this. Enforced hierarchies, relentless bullying, physical intimidation, cut-throat competition against people who should be seen as your equal, those things aren't natural. A guild should be a family, as comfortable as your home. When one falls, we all feel it and work to rectify it. When one of us gets sick there's a line down the block from your door, interrupting traffic while they try to bring you soup."

"Juvia brings others soup all the time," she mumbled.

"And how often do they return the favor?" He countered. Her eyes dipped then, answering him without words, "Look, there's something… You don't quite… You could do better, is all I'm saying. Maybe not Fairy Tail," he relented, palms up, "that might be too close to betrayal given our history, but there are other guilds. Blue Pegasus for one."

Yeah, if you liked being surrounded by cotton candy brained pretty boys who'd roll out the red carpet for any girl who happened to pass by, but couldn't pick an individual one out of a crowd.

He'd heard good things about Master Bob, being an old friend of Gramps and all, but the actual members…

From what little he knew, they were something of an acquired taste…

"There's uh…" Damn, did he really not know any other guilds? "The one with the collars," Gray twisted his wrist through the air, trying to recall, "Their guild master's kinda young, they've got sort of a frat thing going on. You know them, the dog boys, oh what's the name?"

"Quatro Cerberus?" The Rain Woman supplied, looking amused.

"Exactly! Thank you." That would have kept him up all night, "Quatro Cerberus. Now, they do have a thing with women," And that's that there weren't any, in the entire guild, "But you've got skills and the fortitude to break barriers, I'm sure you can work it out. And if not, I'll send you a lifetime supply of permanent markers; they're not so bright over there, a little drawn-on mustache and you're through the door in no time."

Juvia burst out laughing and Gray joined in, grateful the mood had lightened up a bit.

Sure, their general situation didn't really call for laughter, if you considered the big picture; had she burst into snickers during his first two days here, he probably would have tried to fight her again, injury be damned.

Still, it was a nice sound to hear from her, and it was rather interesting to see how much her demeanor changed. It was like sunlight beaming through the heart of a hurricane, when she smiled.

Gray blinked then, face hot, before he began wondering when he'd come to be so goddamn poetic…

But still, in all the time they'd been down here together, he could count on one hand how many times she'd laughed openly like that.

The bluenette was none the wiser to his thoughts, "Juvia is not sure dog collars are a fashion piece she is comfortable incorporating into her wardrobe everyday."

"Fair enough," He agreed, easily, "Then there's the old woman, Baba or something. She runs a pretty good guild as well, Lamia Scale. They're not really known for anything in particular, more of a mixed bag, which could be cool if you're looking for more experience and a broader worldview."

"Hm." She hummed, leaning back on her hands leisurely, "Juvia has heard about them."

"Oh, yeah?"

She nodded, "Apparently their guild mistress is making many waves, recruitment wise."

"There you go!" Gray enthused, surprised they'd come to such a clean solution so quickly, "If they're on the lookout for powerful members as it is, you've got more than a shot."

"Juvia isn't so sure." The bluenette straightened then, punishing her bottom lip like it had done something to her family, " Not that Juvia is even considering," she clarified, "but Lamia Scale seems to be after true elites, at the moment. They just acquired Jura Neekis, an actual Wizard Saint. Juvia hasn't even been S-Class two years, her experience simply isn't on par with that."

Gray threw his hands up suddenly, giving his head a wild shake, like he was on a ride he hadn't mentally prepared for as well as he'd thought, "Wait, you're an S-Class wizard?"

He didn't know what Phantom Lord's standards were compared to his own guild, but given the cut-throat attitude he'd seen so far, gleefully butchering the weakest members and leaving them to fend for themselves over minor infractions, he got the feeling Jose wasn't just passing that title around for mere participation.

She nodded, as though agreeing with his thoughts, as well.

"And you've been one for… two whole years?"

"Nearly."

That would make her about fifteen at the time, not the youngest he'd ever witnessed, he was pretty sure Erza held that title, but still impressive.

If not downright terrifying.

Juvia never meant to hurt you.

He'd been so deeply insulted at the implications when she'd said it, completely unaware of his sheer luck.

An S-Class wizard.

He thought back to their fight a few hours ago, how he'd sat there, unmoved, and realized he probably wouldn't be able to do it again. Not now, when he understood the danger.

The only problem here is that you underestimate Juvia!"

He was lucky to be alive…

She wasn't following his concerns.

"They've pulled in all sorts, as you said, but they're powerful. A Wizard Saint, mages with unheard of Lost Magic – including one who mimics the art of necromancy – and an ice wizard. All within the span of a few weeks."

"Really?" There weren't many ice wizards running around Earthland. Apart from Lyon, Gray couldn't think of a major player who practiced the art, and as that bastard had all the teamwork skills of a hungry shark, he could say with a glacier-full of certainty it wasn't him, "I'll have to check them out."

"You'd leave your guild?" She whispered scandalized, eyes wide.

"No, I just meant I'd visit. Gramps has a good standing with Lamia Scale – all of the major guilds really – so we're always welcome. And with the whole inter-guild thing, y'know we'd be allowed to take jobs together. If you wanted. I swing by, check and make sure you're alright."

Why was his face reacting so strongly, he just wanted to make sure she wasn't a magnet for bullies everywhere, there was no need for his ears to be on fire as are they were.

"Hm." Her expression was thoughtful again, but whatever conclusions she was coming to she decided to keep to herself.

Then she stood.

"Wait, where are you going?" Foolishly, Gray scrambled to his feet as well, as if he could stop her.

Or join her.

"Perhaps Juvia has a slight tickle in her throat," she mused, gathering up her supplies from her cot, "and maybe someone above will be there, ready to pass her some soup."

"Oh, you're mad again," Gray realized, more than mildly disappointed she didn't take away anything from their conversation, "Look, I didn't mean anything by it."

If she wanted to play patty cake with a band of pirates while their ship sank, who was he to butt in?

"How 'bout we just put that conversation under the bridge, and talk about something else? I heard from a very reliable source recently that lime green is the new black. Thoughts?" He sat back down, hoping the action would inspire something similar within her.

It didn't.

But her expression surprised him, "Juvia isn't mad." She replied, tucking the little crate under her arm, with a soft smile, "just curious."

She moved to step away, then paused, turning back towards him, "Juvia didn't mean to, she isn't quite sure how it happened, but here."

She pressed something into his hands, and when Gray turned it over he was left looking at himself, represented almost perfectly in yarn.

"Please consider it a present, or a talisman, whichever suits you best."

And with that, she was gone again.

xJx

Of course Juvia felt no such tickle, and she was certain Captive-san was clever enough to know that, but she had to leave.

That same feeling she had the other day, that Phantom Lord would not survive, had started dancing around in the back of her mind.

Only now it was doubled, more pressing.

And there was no one to blame but the Fairy Tail mage down in the dungeons.

Twice he'd tried to talk her into walking away, and twice she'd faithlessly played with idea, saw the appeal. To leave this guild and never look back, seek out a place where everything she'd endured in an effort to be respected in Phantom Lord would seem like a terrible dream, something frowned upon.

A place where people would see her value, without her having to put any effort into it. That they'd want to be around Juvia simply because she was Juvia.

That she, as herself, without any reservations or self imposed dams in place to keep her oddities at bay, would be enough.

And that's why she had to leave, get to higher ground, a floor with windows, to remind herself sharply of why such a thing could never exist.

The clock struck one as the heavy patter of rain clashed against darkened windows behind her. She fiddled idly with a plate, already stacked high with a pyramid of rice balls, while she watched without really seeing, the stew made of various odds-and-ends from around the kitchen, boiling away.

Juvia shook her head. Why was she giving his words any weight, in the first place?

He'd said a lot of things during his time in the dungeons, openly admitting he'd do or say anything to escape once he was well enough.

A sharp sense of failure prickled her skin; knowing she'd promised to turn the ice mage below on his guild and instead her treacherous heart had been swayed by empty promises and tales of adventure that felt as substantial as steam once under direct light.

She should know better than to willingly dip her fingers into poisoned honey…

His invitation…

It hadn't been.

Or it wouldn't be. Once he knew the truth about Juvia, he'd backpedal, of course he would. Her rain was a burden he was unaware of as of yet, but it would be a sticking point, it's not like she could hide it.

She was lucky to have Phantom Lord, who else would extend such patience with her? To betray the only people who'd embraced her over a few little pranks or a couple words thrown her way out of anger…

Betrayal would only wind up marking her as something worse than an enemy in the eyes of Phantom Lord. Juvia shuddered at the mere thought, unable to bear even what conjured up within her mind, no doubt a shadow of Jose's rage in real life.

There would be no betraying her guild.

No, from now on she would remain stalwart, not just a passive player, but an active participant to winning this war.

Then Captive-san could be freed, Jose-sama's burdens would lessen, everyone could go back to lives and friends and jobs and homes, and this whole bloody mess would become a footnote in the guild's history.

Juvia let out a breath, taking up the spoon to stir the stew.

She was just beginning to consider leaving it to simmer away while she sought out Gajeel when the man in question's voice floated in from the doorway.

Her heart stopped for a moment, as she remembered what she and Captive-san had done downstairs, before it picked up double, her cheeks pinking.

They'd made magic together, just like she'd imagined on the rooftop– No, better. Juvia recalled his hand under her's, his patient, murmured instructions, the way her skin, her blood, her entire body seemed to sing in those moments, when he'd made that boring little blob into something more beautiful than she could ever imagine possible.

It has been beyond her imaginings, she could die happy now, though if she were being honest, there was a small, greedy part of her that wondered if he'd be willing to do it with her again. She wanted to experience that same feeling a hundred times, a thousand, even if it meant Master Jose interrupting just like he did, after each try.

Gajeel's brash voice pushed through her thoughts like a battering ram, "You always wanna hang your hat on the nearest loser…"

Her mood immediately soured, though not in the same way as a moment before. "Gajeel-kun, you take that back, he is no loser!"

"Yeah?" The studs where his brows should be raised sardonically, "Then how'd he get downstairs?"

"Well," Juvia's cheeks flushed, annoyed at the point he was trying to make so plainly, "he did lose to Juvia, but that doesn't make him a loser–!"

"Ah, I see. I guess when a fly flies, that makes it a cow, huh?" He flashed his teeth, so unnaturally sharp, at Juvia's cross look, "Wish you'd told me that earlier, one of those little bastards was buzzing in my ear just this morning. If I'dda known, I woulda at least got a couple cups of milk before I swatted it to death with that boo–"

"Why must you always take the joke so far?" She huffed, turning to stomp away from him.

"My point is, stop bustin' yer ass for the nearest perverted pretty boy," Gajeel jerked his chin towards the stove, unknowingly echoing the sentiment of the boy he so despised, "Regardless of what everyone says, you could do better."

Juvia ignored the way her heart sank a little at the thought of everyone speaking of her ever dwindling prospects of intimacy and romance, and replied proudly, "This isn't for him."

Gajeel made a face, but the water mage upheld her air of superiority as she pulled down a soup bowl that had seen better days, "Juvia has a sneaking suspicion Jose-sama did not participate in the pizza party this evening?"

"I wouldn't know," he shrugged honestly.

"Well Juvia would. Master is very finicky with his food, so Juvia has prepared something just for him."

"Ah, that's for Jose," Gajeel peered into the steel pot like there was a fully cooked, human baby nestled inside; his skin even looked a little paler, "Glad you told me before I did something stupid like try a taste…"

"Why would that be stupid?" She asked, filling a bowl, "You're more than welcome to have some."

"Hn. Pass."

"Why?"

"'Cause I heard what he did this afternoon and I kinda enjoy living."

It took her a moment to understand his meaning, "Juvia would never poi–!"

"Right, right, right. Remind me again, what happened to Colin Mudlin? The guy from six months ago, the guy you were," He pitched his voice higher in an insulting attempt at imitating her, " Destined to run away with, purchase a cottage in an abandoned village, grow our own vegetables, train and become independent mage's who were madly in love!" His voice returned to normal, "Where's that guy, how's he doing?"

"He…" Juvia swallowed audibly, "... did end up poisoned, but–!" Her face was once again ablaze as she tried and failed to defend herself over the sound of Gajeel's chortling, "That was never Juvia's intention, she bought a love potion, how was she supposed to know he was so allergic to almond extract?"

"Oh yeah, it tasted like that because of almond extract."

"Stop that!" The ladle came down with more force than she'd intended, before her hands went to her hips, "Had it not been for that minor mishap and the legal action that followed, we could have very well become fabulously wealthy, freelance wizards, repopulating that village with the power of our love."

"The guy wasn't even a wizard, Juvia." He deadpanned.

"He could learn!" She cried.

"Yeah, just like how he had to relearn how to walk, thanks to you."

Juvia gasped, "He managed to relearn? Oh, that's wonderful!" She'd been carrying around so much guilt, it was a nice thing to get that weight off her chest. "And it only took him six months, Colin-san truly was spectacular."

"We're talking about nothing," the older boy gruffed, "if wanna dish that out to Jose, I'm blind, I ain't see nothin', but go ahead a leave some the Stripper. I'm sure he could eat again, maybe he's allergic to almond and coconut extract."

How dare he make a reference to the other man Juvia accidentally poisoned! " Gajeel-kun."

"Hey, it's yer Lecherous Lover that's all shacked up with the Bunny Gi–!"

"Oh, Juvia had it all wrong." She beamed, mood shifting like a lacrima switch, "Blondie's not his girlfriend. He has no girlfriend. No fianceé. He's never been married. And he has zero children!" She sang, thoroughly elated, spinning in place, surrounded by daydreams and invisible starlight.

As if all that weren't enough, if Captive-san was true to his word, Juvia was actually the first girl he'd ever felt up!

She held her breath to keep from squealing.

Though he couldn't hear her thoughts, Gajeel still didn't share her euphoria, "The bar is below Earthland's core for you, ain't it Ame-Onna?"

"One day, you will meet your perfect half and when that happens, your heart will sing, compelling you to sing and Juvia will be right there, cheering you on."

Gajeel was too busy muttering something while he shook his head, to retort.

Once she managed to come down from her high a little bit, Juvia collected a tray from one of the under cabinets, placing the rest of the stew in a smaller pot, along with the bowl, some utensils and a few napkins. She arranged them, mindful of the stairs she would need to climb in order to get to her Master's office and began to head out of the kitchen.

Gajeel kicked open the door for her, holding it while she passed.

He kept pace with her.

"So about that list…"

He sighed, "You ain't talking me out of it, I don't care what the Stripper whispered in your ear, it's not coming to a vote."

The water maiden didn't want to think of Captive-san's thoughts on the kill list either, she kept her focus on climbing up the stairs.

But that didn't mean she didn't have her own thoughts.

"Juvia thinks you should wait."

He shook his head, "Three o'clock, I already told ya."

He had, tapping his lacrima on the edge of his teeth down in the dungeons, three times. It was a code they'd come up with some time ago because it looked strangely natural when he did it, somehow it looked like the best way to clear a grainy image in the crystal ball,

He was so determined not to let anything slip around Captive-san, she knew he wouldn't approve of all that she'd shared when he was absent.

She even told him their current location…

The bluenette shook her head, "Juvia knows… it's just… there's no rush–"

"I got these orders direct from the Geezer's gums, there's a rush."

"3 o'clock, it's less than five minutes–"

"Yeah, Sue's in the library, I'm heading there now."

Juvia's stomach dropped. She knew neither Sue nor Boze had been much help when Gajeel fought Fairy Tail's dragon slayer. She also hadn't been much help when Juvia was tasked to find her clothes, choosing instead to play coy and clueless, but it seemed too real.

She stopped walking and the iron dragon slayer stopped with her, expression resigned.

"She doesn't deserve this."

"If she didn't, she wouldn't have been listed."

"Gajeel-kun."

"It ain't up to me." The dragon slayer shrugged, playing unconcerned, "If they weak, they gotta go."

Gajeel was fond of Sue, that's probably why he'd picked her first.

He started stomping up the stairs. Juvia followed, the tray in her arms somehow twice as heavy.

"Don't be dramatic," he gruffed in an undertone as they passed one of the rooms holding their guildmates. The pizza must have arrived, a few of the boxes sat outside the door, waiting to be picked up by whoever was on cleanup duty, "They're talented in other ways, I'm sure someone'll pick them up in no time. I'll knock 'em out tonight, it'll be quick."

"Do you mean the tasks or our former guildmates?" She whispered dully.

He shrugged again, "That's entirely up to how they respond."

They were coming up on the fork that would separate their paths, Juvia gathered her courage and pleaded, "At least wait, if only until our next pit stop."

Gajeel opened his mouth, clearly intent on arguing, but Juvia beat him to it, "Jose-sama is not entirely in his right mind, you know how he reacts when he's put on the defensive, he lashes out, and then, once everything smoothes itself out, he has no memory of the terrible actions he took when he was cornered, and we'll be the ones on the hook for not predicting that he wouldn't want what he said he wanted."

It was a bit like trying to appease a god, whenever their master managed to pull himself out of one of his moods. A god of indecision. "Please? One night?"

Gajeel rolled his eyes, tongue flicking off a fang in annoyance, but Juvia smiled softly, knowing she'd already won.

He jabbed his finger at her, probably trying to puncture her small sense of victory, "The second one of those bitches tries to argue with me tomorrow, I get to throw them out a window."

He was so determined to do that, she couldn't begin to understand.

"Juvia will not be there to stop you," she nodded.

Gajeel huffed once, satisfied, before turning left and stomping down a different hall, away from the library and out of sight.

The glow of her win lasted all the way up until she crossed her Master's threshold, and perhaps a few seconds beyond that.

By the time she'd left Jose's office, the guild hall of Phantom Lord was trekking through nothing short of a tornado.

xA/Nx

Firstly, I'd like to thank Wikipedia. I was going to write original versions of The Red Thread of Fate using them only as a reference, but after reading the stories they had posted, I knew it was better than anything I could have come up with.

If possible please donate to Wikipedia, they're a wonderful trove of knowledge that I feel is sort of underappreciated by the internet, for all it's done for us. (And yes, of course, I've donated to them myself.)

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I really did. I tried to showcase the beauty of their magic and their bond as it grows little by little. It hurts me to hurt Juvia, but I want her to live better, to realize she deserves better. Sometimes that isn't something people are willing to receive from others, they have to come to the conclusion themselves.

I also really enjoyed Gajeel and Gray… not warming up to each other, but coming to a certain understanding. Men are knuckleheads, what can I say?

The next chapter will be shorter, but I don't think that will mean I'll post it earlier, instead I'm gonna post a double feature – it will make sense when you read them – so look forward to that.

Thanks for reading, I really appreciate it.

Mwah!