This is a quick uploading because it was written, and it's really the first Gray X Juvia moment. Not much else to say here other than I wrote this during a thunderstorm.

"This is it." Juvia finally spoke as they came to an unmarked moss colored door.

She lived on the third floor of a deteriorating five story apartment building, at the back of the hall. There the light from the front end window ended in shadows, concealing paint chips and loose nails. It looked terribly shabby, but that was mainly appearance. Truthfully, the building had good copper pipes, a water filter, spare hot water tank, air conditioning and floor heating (enough to be decent).

Giving a glance over her shoulder, Gray had stayed three steps behind.

Even that was a little close for her, secluded in the dark empty hallway. The image of a woman pinned between paisley wallpaper and a Hercules of a man in a dim motel hall flashed through her mind. Where?...She immediately wondered, then Juvia's face burned. It had been a scene from television, one of Sol's romance dramas.

After that, she hurried unlocking the door, fumbling the key into the hole before another image, this time most likely starring herself and Gray, decided to play.

"Please, Come in." She choked, stepping inside. Juvia prayed thanks that it at least sounded polite.

The flush was fading, as her embarrassment turned to eagerness, and insecurity. She had never shown anyone her apartment before, nor seen the other tenants' apartments for that matter. It left her inexperienced at playing hostess.

What to do next. Should she offer a tour? Though, he was likely to leave with Totomaru and Sol anyway. She could make tea and snacks, but that again assumed he was staying long enough for the water to boil. A slight ripple of panic went through her, as she realized she had probably already failed in some manner. She peeked back at Gray, who was closing the door behind him, to see if he looked expectant.

He was not as far as she could tell. His eyes were not even on her, moving around the room with unreadable observation. It only made her more anxious.

Or rather their home, she corrected, seeing all the male influence. It was not a big apartment, just the entrance living room, kitchen, and a hall leading to four bedrooms and a bath. All their extra belongings sort of congregated in the main space. The nice and normal things were two pale cretonne couches in the center, with an oak polished coffee table in between, and a twenty inch flat screen television on the wall. However, there was also a punching bag and weight bench in one corner, fifty coffee cup potted herbal plants taking up the windowsill, an easel and paint stand, a shelf of sewing material, and egg yolk crusted plates, left over from either breakfast or lunch.

Really, with four people it was a miracle, there was still maneuverable space. Slipping off her shoes, she decided it would be best not to wait for his reaction.

"I'll go get Toto-"

The sound of footsteps and a heavy crash came from the hallway. And there was Totomaru, in his usual red track suit, his hair, died half white, half black for some artistic individuality, pulled into a short messy ponytail. The thick line he had tattooed straight across his face looked askew. He was not really an afternoon person, usually asleep or grumpy at that point in the day, and hence the explanation for his disheveled state. But, he looked uncannily wide awake right now.

Juvia tilted her head, sending him an odd questioning stare. Totomaru stood in his place for a moment, then shook himself. Without taking his eyes away from her and Gray, he gave one thunderous knock on the bedroom door to his right. At that point Juvia's blood chilled, smacked by the stark realization that Gray's appearance was more shock than welcome.

She regretted not leaving him at the building's door. Totomaru had just been getting out of bed, caught in the act of carrying out the dishes he had smuggled into his room.

"Monsieur! One minute!" A heavy French accent sang into the tension saturated air, muffled a bit through the wood of the door.

"Five seconds, Sol!" Totomaru barked back.

Desperate to salvage the mistake, and then she would thoroughly begin apologizing, Juvia was going to ask Gray to step out. It was the only thing she could think to do, and truly, she just had to do something.

She stared at him, a full two seconds before he seemed to understand the request for attention. She was prepared to speak, but the gaze he fixed on her threw her off balance again. With a hard breath, Juvia forced her mouth open, both nervous and determined.

"Gray, perhaps you should wait outside a coup-"

Thud. For the second time, the slam of a door interrupted.

Sol, with his skinny, posh earthy suit slipped out of the room. Vaguely, Juvia noticed his mustache was extra curly today, and that he even put on his monocle for whatever reason. For a heartbeat, her fears erased, as Sol acted normal. Then, her blood froze because he too stiffened.

"Oh…Monsieur Fullbuster." He muttered seriously. "Monsiuer, I take it this is for interfering, s'il vous plais. Let us make ammends."

"Of course, you must understand that it was just orders. Nothing of our own decided offence." Totomaru was shaking as he spoke.

Juvia stumbled back a few steps, feeling like one of the potted plants of the windowsill. This was not a meeting she was meant to witness. Sol and Totomaru were not this businesslike. And, oh gosh, she had led Gray straight to them in the most unprofessional manners.

"So you think that clears your situation?" Gray was calm, drawing his arm from his pocket. Juvia was so focused on those expressionless eyes it took a few seconds later to recognize the dull metallic object in his hands.

There was silence in the room. And then the sound of Sol breathing hard, whispering, pleading..

"S'il vous plais, we have much to offer… our shipments, contacts, information…"

Crack.

The rise of Gray's arms, Sol's slow descent to his knees. Rose splatters covered Totomaru head to toe, and the hallway walls. Colors faded, but those red droplets stayed bright. Like raindrops, the storm inside the apartment. She twitched at the following thud of Sol face planting into the wood floor.

Totomaru recognized it too. True horror, deeper than the actor could ever imitate, unmasked on his wide face. He opened his mouth, to splutter something, but was beaten by the sound of another click and then he too fell, but backwards. And this time Juvia saw the black dot between his eyes, and his second tattoo, accompanied by a full facial painted in the rosy color. Behind him, the hallway had been twice rained on.

She knew she should run to them, but one step and her legs would have crumbled. A deafening pound echoed in her ears, and the world seemed to swirl like a hurricane. She was not going to pass out, but her mind was struggling to acknowledge that her chances had hit dead end.

It was too fast, too too fast. She was still trying to reason why Sol and Totomaru collapsed, when that hollow socket turned over to her. That little dark, and deep circle.

Seconds were flying at the speed of light, wasting her last precious moments, and all she could think about were the impossibles.

There was the door just behind him. There were the windows, a good leap away. People were in the other apartments, who could hear her scream. Hell, even the couches and kitchen counter might have been options. Yet, it was futile, she would not even have an inch of movement to work with.

So she breathed heavily, and tried to stay standing until it was over.

"You can scream if you'd like." It sounded like the granting of a last request, and oh god, she did want to cry. Every insufferable inch of terror was boiling on the edge of her skin, while she stood motionless unable to express an ounce. Because, somehow her head was still thinking rationally. What good could any of it do now? How could she even want the other tenants to come with Gray still in the apartment? It stung even more, when she looked up and remembered just how beautiful her would be killer was. That she had almost forgotten him, and wasted her last looks into the face of a muzzle.

"Hn."

And while she still could not grasp the idea of taking the hit, the gun fell to the side.

The thunderstorm spiked in her chest, raining from the heavens. She was not dead… yet.

"Hm…Juvia." The caution in his voice reminded her she had not even given him her name.

She waited, not allowing herself to hope for…for…

"I need their business records. Specifically the last two months."

There is a pause, her just staring, not comprehending.

Then it hit her like a rock, and she feared causing too much of a delay. Juvia nodded, finding speaking too difficult. She did know where those files are stored.

One step, and she halted, waiting to see if that gun returned to its threatening position. It didn't, so she took another. Each subsequent step became easier, until she found herself walking, padding toward the kitchen, and pulling the fridge away from the wall. She really shouldn't have been abandoning or betraying her roommates, yet she couldn't help but feel relieved to not have to go to their rooms, to not have to step over the two cherry bodies.

Sol probably looked like a Christmas nightmare, all red, and with green hair. It's a gruesome thought that wheedled into her mind, disturbing even her.

Gray moved behind her, as she pulled open the hidden cabinet and retrieved two cardboard boxes. These were for up to the last year. He inspected, pulling out one and flicking through the pages.

"Whose hand writing is this?" He asked, and Juvia's heart catches again.

It was consistent blue pen, written almost as meticulous as a computer typed font. However, that was likely not what he was admiring. Instead, they were the actual words. The names appeared meaningless, listed unheard of companies and partners, the items ranged dramatically and unrealistically from windmill turbines to pencils. Some of the numbers in the tally columns even included letters or characters making the additions and mathematics impossible. It was coded, down to the very minute details.

But his recognition was only half her fears. The other half was admitting to him her accomplice. It might have been the only way to save herself, to make herself useful, but she was undecided on if she could betray her roommates anymore.

"I'm not asking again." He pushed the file into her shoulder, but made no move for the gun. He probably found no threat in her.

For a desperate person, this is the sign or act from above. For a gang member, it is probably akin to tying back one hand in a fight. She had never been a hardcore religious believer or a formal gang member, but as a street child, Juvia learned how to fight. And at that point, the shock wore off, something within her begged for some, any, kind of burst.

So, with a curt goodbye to the nothing that was her everything, Juvia lunged like the barracuda queen. But Gray was fast, or expecting some crazed last stand, shifting to the side immediately….and….exposing the target. His waist. She grabbed the belt, falling, using the weight of her body to drag him down with her. Her hand snagged the gun in the disorientation, pushed off him and carried away the piece like a child in her arms. The attack likely would not have worked had she been male or looked the least bit threatening, but Juvia would not complain about being underestimated this time.

Crazy or not, she just turned the tide.

It left her in place where she had to figure out what to do next, as she took caution to position her stolen little treasure. It took two hands too hold, because she couldn't quite force her timid fingers to bend and grip.

"That was a dirty move there." Gray sat back scowling, though there was a little glimmer in his eyes. The light grew, and a small twist in his lips formed, taunting her, as if this was all some theatrical hoax. Play on.

She just wanted him gone, out of her apartment, and for him to take his destruction too. The easiest way would have been to simply shoot him point blank. She couldn't simply expect he would walk away without attempting to retaliate. And he seemed good enough to succeed. Shoot him. The little shoulder devils whispered it was punishment for murdering Sol, Totomaru, maybe even her had there been the chance.

Her fingers clenched a little firmer, and she raised the deep cylinder to his head. She couldn't aim, but at this close a range, it did not matter. A terrified patter in her chest began as she actually considered her best option.

Gray changed to a curious face, met by a stony stare.

"Damn woman" He hissed, finally understanding the threat. There was one last look, of anger, upset from defeat, and Juvia knew that she should pull the trigger.

But she couldn't. Her fingers were too numb, and a last minute thought gave worth to keeping him alive. Aria would come home soon, and Gray may have useful information. Also, Aria would no doubt deliver a proper revenge for Sol and Totomaru. It was a perfectly fitting plan.

Buying time, Juvia raised to a low crouch, taking all the caution to keep the gun pointed. One step back, not far enough to lose the semblance of aim, but just for a bit of comfort. Gray had shifted to his knees, and stayed well behaved.

"Stand up." She ordered coldly, as anxiety melted her insides to a warm liquid. Gray obeyed calmly. "The drawer below the banana on the counter, there are some zip ties."

He raised an eyebrow, and went into Totomaru's drawer of handy repair tools and items. The ties were a foot long and, as best she knows, strong enough to hold a fan from the ceiling. For a careful moment, Juvia took her eyes off him, glancing swiftly along the counter and floor to their right. Thankfully there were no knives or heavy utensils left out. Unfortunately, there were not many places to tie him to, even the water pipes under the sink were covered. The long walk to the bathroom, and over her dead roommates, is the last option she'd take. There has to be something else.

As soon as she found it, the orders continued.

"Take one, tie yourself to the oven handle." Gray could still open the over door, giving him a little leeway, but not enough to be considered. He pulled it to the point where the tie was in contact with half his wrist.

Juvia knew that magicians have a few tricks out of cuffs though.

"Tighter." She ordered. He pulled it till it dug into his wrist, but Juvia stayed concerned. She wouldn't be letting him escape by simply slipping his hand out.

"Tighter." Gray scowled again, rolling his eyes, but once more obeyed. The restraint certainly must be painful at this point. His wrist was curled around the oven door handle, the tie almost lost in the white blood restricted skin. Juvia ordered he do the same with his second wrist. It left her standing there, a bit more comforted, with a gun on her captive.

"Scared now?" Gray scoffed, tilting his head toward the weapon. It was a little excessive at this point.

Juvia took it into the cradle of her arms again, muzzle always pointed away from her. Leaving it anywhere else or holding any less gently seemed like a terrifying idea.

Silence built.

"Did you plan for the next step yet?" Gray spoke, a frigid inquiry.

"Aria will question you when he arrives. Juvia believes you'll be more useful alive than dead, for now." Her voice was strict, and her demeanor steady. But it was all an act, to keep him uncertain and under her command. All would be fine, she told herself, as long as it lasted long enough.

"Huh, we'll see how that goes." He replied, and the quiet settled back over them. Juvia relaxed with each passing minute, stepping further away to take a seat on the counter behind. Gray meanwhile had distracted himself looking at the notebook that fell open on the floor in the tackle. Eyes scanning over the little blue lines and face scrunched. She let it go, seeing no harm. What could two pages of code tell? She'd won; and Aria would finish the rest.

Juvia's eyes drifted over to the living area. Red had begun to seep farther out on the wood, peeking just around and underneath the couch, staining into the floors to haunt her forever. Sol and Totomaru were still in the apartment, right on the other side of the pillowed seat. She couldn't even feel death in the room, like they'd jump right back to their feet and handle Gray a little sooner than Aria could. Totomaru also had a play sometime that week, he should have been prancing around, reciting lines.

She just couldn't let them go.

A grunt of pain brought her back to her captive, to see a brow furrowed in wrinkles and lips clamped. She tried to ignore it, but he grunted again, and she automatically rose. The wrist clamps are probably killing his hands, literally. Not a concern, in the large scheme, but it urged her to check nonetheless. Because…because, maybe he was doing something to free himself, and she wouldn't let that happen.

Cautiously, Juvia returned the weapon to her hand, and stepped forward. Gray noticed. He stayed quiet but twisted his body a bit. It was almost polite, giving her a view of his wrists. She stepped in for better look.

As feared, they were purple. A rich color that almost made Juvia cringe. For a second she lost focus, and the mistake did not go unused.

He acted swift, and unexpected. This time, taking Juvia down in surprise. The movement of Gray's foot at the bottom of her vision, the lead weight buckling her ankles, Juvia fell forward immediately, tossing her weapon, her safety, her shield somewhere off to the right. Her hands lifted to brace, but it was wrong. Gray had also yanked open the oven door. Dazed, she plummeted straight in, sinking and sinking, her head banging on the counter as it passed. Her stomach churned at being bent so awkwardly. It was just past her elbows that Gray slammed the door back closed, smashing her arms, but luckily her face was still out in the open.

However, it did little to help salvage the fact that she was stuck, Gray leaning his whole body against the door. Her arms were going to break; a bitten tongue barely with-holding the restricted scream.

"Dammit, that could have gone better."

Better? Juvia wondered, not sure what he means. She felt pretty demoralized, bent over and a quarter shoved inside an oven, but the terror was ten times worse.

There was no more curiosity in his tone, as he seemed to enact some plan. Standing so close worked up another nerve, a set of shivers that further petrified her. All she could see were Gray's feet, one straining off to the side toward the deposited weapon.

Now it was clear what happened and why, and just how stupid she had been. And she watched, as he slid the gun up the cabinets with his leg to the edge of the oven where he could reach. The whole motion looked too effortless to be real. The short following shatter of the oven handle as he shot one restraint free made her jump, and her heart ache. But she couldn't pull away as little black plastic splinters showered her face. For the second hand, Gray swept a knife from his pocket and cut it loose. The whole thing looked very professional, like an everyday task.

He turned around, keeping his weight on the door, her trapped, and rubbed his returned wrists.

And then he looked down on her, expressionless. From below, Juvia felt all the more like a five year old caught for punishment by an adult. There wasn't even room for humiliation, just fear.

"One dirty trick for another, now's the time to talk. It had not been known you were one of their accomplices."

She couldn't quite deny the implications anymore. Couldn't even trust herself to speak. Silence though appeared to be an acceptable answer this time.

He moved away, and for a second Juvia felt relief for being freed, but a large rough hand clasped her arm, directly over the tender forming bruise and tugged her forward.

"Go at it again, and it will end up a lot more painful. Got that?" She nodded, fully convinced, ready to comply entirely. No more games, he would win and slaughter her.

Gray reached for the box of files, returning the missing one.

"You're not dead yet, but any moves to alert your neighbors; expect a bullet before you even reach a door. Grab the files, and let's go."

Back to the living room, they paraded. Juvia carried the cardboard box as if it was a coffin. Sol and Totomaru still hiding behind the couch and she couldn't see them. Gray made no comment.

There was one last second of hope, a few steps through the room, the front door swung open, Aria stomped forward big as a ship. He barely got a look, and Gray shot, bringing the storm for the final time through the room. Juvia was too used to it by then, she figured, and flinched but did not break down as Aria toppled. Gray's grip was on her shoulder however, guiding her forward through each step. She let him push her, without a word, counting breaths and hitching sobs every now and then.

And then he lead her out the door that she had let him in.

So what did you think? Should Juvia still become infatuated with Gray in this story?

It's going to be both fun and stressful continuing;