The ocean roared hungrily, as if familiar with the sight of the car parked above. Waves gargled, and buoys clanged, piercing the darkness. Worst were the lapping little crests, their crude slurping. The low pressure system which had brought the last two days of rain must have finally arrived. While the sprinkler had stopped, clouds remained masking the stars, and in the fifteen minutes since the trio left the building, a thick sea breeze had come to shore.
Sharp salty gusts whipped strands of blue over her eyes, and tangled the tatters of dress around her legs. The heavy cloth, still slightly damp, skinned the warmth from her, like the heat were miniscule grains of sand being picked up by a desert wind. Her skin had become a dead land of miniature bone white dunes. But neither the puckered epidermis, nor chill received her concern.
It was all in that horrible, greedy sucking noise. The growling that bombarded her ears, invaded her head, and swashed around the cavern of her skull.
The slobbering ocean, the enthusiastic dinner bells; she almost thought she could understand the grunted language, imagined the roiling waters drooling like a dog with a savory bone dangled in its face.
Come and get it! The rings continued pounding. Come and see what Phantom Lord brought to the beast tonight!
She swayed above, on squishy wetted planks, nose tickled by the salty-sweet mixture of sea and algae, entranced by the churning shadowed surface. It came across desperate, violent: a reminder that mother nature's elements are raw and expressive. And, she'd be lying to deny a somewhat love for this openness. Same with the rain, she supposed. It came and went as it pleased, caused whatever damage it wanted, whether in flash floods, hail, a long steady drenching. She should have been more like that in life, probably would have been left feeling more realistic and alive than she had felt growing up, than she did now.
But these were absurd last thoughts; considering she had begun projecting herself upon nonliving subjects. Not to mention how pretentious, and entirely insane, she must have been to compare her meek person with such a humongous and powerful source. Neither strong, or forceful, she hadn't been the whole entity, just the boneless water within, being pushed and pulled into doing whatever told.
There was a clunk behind, barely heard over the waves. God, couldn't that terrible noise end just for a minute? No one could think clearly with that demanding howl.
She swiveled, standing in the middle of dock and ominously aware of those abyssal drops along the left and right.
Both men stood on the outside flank of the vehicle, mere feet separating them from the edge. The car interior light was still on, illuminating the carriage. Wise grunted and shoveled forward bulky, his shoulders lurching over every step. In contrast, Harold strode almost with a leisurely grace. They'd been rooting around the car like a fishermen hunched over a tacklebox, and now she finally got to see the chosen equipment.
Wise's greasy arms were stuffed with a sharp pointed hunk of metal and mess of chain, covered in several dark black patches of oils and grime. Gross, filthy; a bit of vomit worked the way up her throat.
"Welcome to the graveyard! Give a nod to our old buddies, if you see any down there." He called with a hearty breath at the end, and turned to his partner with contemplation. "Ah' think we dropped one last week? He'd still be down there right?"
The wind screamed for here, a ripping shriek that out of nowhere whistled as it passed overhead. No please, don't say that, she begged, fully able to imagine it. There's so much she didn't want to know. How it would feel standing in the muck at the bottom, if she'd be trapped amongst a patch of writhing, slimy weeds. Now, she worries about bumping into cold, solid objects, reaching out to feel the shape of a hand, or a bloated dissolving face.
She was swallowing the vomit desperately.
"I'd bet not," Harold shrugs, like this really was something simple enough to bet on. "We've been droppin' on these docks, for years, and none of the bodies ever show up. And I guess fishermen love coming here for the carnivorous catch. I'd say there's got to be a con.., oh damn, that's not the word,.. correlation, causal and effect thing."
She stood rigid, as the words blew over the waters, glancing into the blackness. It was too dark, and the one halo of lamp light above was too weak to extend out to sea. But she must see, her urge to know overpowered her will of survival. One leg lifted, trembling it tiptoed an inch forward, and settled down. One step done, more steps continued in slow shifting fashion, to the docks' edge, where the light struggled, but was barely able to penetrate the salt clouded air. Five to ten feet below, a painful drop she thought aside, dark shadows circled and climbed over top each other. She perused the surface, expectant of movement besides water and foam.
The dinner bells were screeches she'd do anything shut up. Every creature within a hundred miles must have heard them, hurrying to the call. But, there was nothing visible, no sharks, oh god, sharks, she could be eaten by sharks! As the idea cemented, a violent tremble began skin deep.
It did not make it to the surface. Scared stiff, was the description.
But, she had made this choice. It was her decision to give up, rather than rat anyone out and become even more involved. This was the right choice, she asserted again, and would repeat until belief smothered the terror.
Besides, it wouldn't be as bad as she thought. She'd likely drown before any creatures got to her. Just a few minutes of hard enflamed breathe, and then she'd drift off. Also, in attempt to self uplift (though having never done a good job at this), under the surface, she'd finally escape the noise; the winds and churning bay would become nothing but a muffled moan, perhaps complete silence if deep enough. It could have been worse; and there wasn't much other a choice.
Juvia kept bleak and clammy, fists clamped and resigned.
Wise moved next to her, turned her to face him, and began the rigging: a pair of cuffs, a fluke anchor and a padlock. The whole thing was done cheap, probably less than fifty dollars expended; she felt it a reflection on her worth. Then again. A bullet would be cheaper, and that's all Sol, Totomaru, and Aria received. The cuffs obviously were meant for the wrists, the padlock connecting the cuffs' and anchor chains. The key nowhere in sight, most likely was not even brought along.
Wise and Harold set up as if in routine, making another tally on the thought that she really was worth so little. Their hands moved slow, but deft, as they shoved the padlock shank closed, the locking bar giving a happy click.
"Alright and tight. Think it's all set." Harold nodded, yanking the lock and her wrists, in check.
She dared not move, afraid the cold squishy planks, full of a pungent (almost strong enough to mask the salty air) rotting moss, would break underneath her feet.
Both her executioners dragged out smokes, as if giving some mocking ceremonially light. It was time. Now? Could she have the strength it took to jump?
Sky and sea roared and growled from their depths, starved and drooling over the long wait. She stood, on the edge of the world, looking into the chasm, gravity, the wind, all the forces in the air suddenly tugging harder and harder toward the Earth's center. She was going to do it, her body resigned, and all ignorance shown to the people who believed in mind over matter. That stiff, secretly trembling, leg under her waist, was ready to step off the plank….one last look, she twisted wanting one last look at the two men who were blowing hallow smoke for her, and holding orange tipped incense the flavor of burnt tobacco.
And when she did, she halted, insulted and aware they weren't even watching.
Offended? How could she…. She caught herself fading into a distraction; and with the lash of a whip, drove her eyes in the direction their heads pointed. Both had faced backs to her, expressions hidden, but the lowered cigarettes at their sides gave enough evidence to assume the funeral ritual had paused. She followed the dock, squinting back the way they'd came.
The interruption wasn't too far. Just to the parked car, of which the interior lights were now off, and, there…. was…
…this…
…Deja vu? She hadn't even noticed the approach. She was sure he hadn't been there seconds ago. And before, they were out here alone on the docks, so where had he sneaked in from? The thought of his arrival having any sort of coincidence sank as immediately as it was drawn into the idea pool.
Raven chopped hair, grim eyes, and scowling; a signature that would forever remain soaked into her mind.
Gray was standing there with that same frustrated and bored expression as when talking with Totomaru. He was standing there, shirtless, (and damn that traitorous clod of brain cells just had to gush she'd been right about those lean muscles), one hand in his pants pocket. He was standing there eyes aligned with hers, and there was a slight unevenness to his lids that warranted an unspoken question. He was standing there.
Unless her mind was back to its tricks; she felt sane enough at the moment, but that didn't always mean everything. Nevertheless, she took it true, best to invite the worst rather than hope the best. And even if this were some sort of hallucination, she wanted to know what the heck her mind thought he'd have to say in these last seconds.
Maybe it just wanted to look upon something beautiful, an angel of death of sorts. Heaven couldn't deny he was handsome as much as cold-hearted, and that such a job would fit. She wanted a kiss. Hell could take her, but oh God, if she was leaving this world, she wanted it to be by his lips rather than the tumultuous waters.
And then, Juvia realized just what tangent she'd succumbed too, along with the reminder that the Gray before her was real. And he was the angel of death for her roommates, and her. He was the torpedo that bombarded her life, and left it in tatters, sinking. For her to conceive anything better of him, not even considering that blush touching her cheeks, meant she definitely deserved the sinner's afterlife, for fawning over a cold blooded killer, worth no more than a pretty face, and body.
It was like she'd been dunked in a bucket of ice, awakening from the subduction of a dazzling complexion. Juvia vowed to hold her wits.
The moment of silence didn't last. Wise stepped forward, and she saw his cigarette fall, ash chunks breaking off of the end.
"So she really was one of yours. Damn, you guys really annoy the piss out of me." He barked, which Juvia strained to hear.
The ocean waves crashed, reasserting their hungry need. Jump, before this gets any messier than it needs to be, she told herself. It was a hollow order, as she couldn't go without knowing why Gray had arrived. (Foolish, hormonal, curiosity.) Gray's expression moved from her to the man, and his eyes slanted further. Considering he didn't seem to talk much, she half didn't expect him to speak. However, he did, voice frigid as frost, like she remembered.
"Guess that's just our style." If he meant destructive, then yes, she agreed.
Harold too, for the next thing heard was him hissing to his partner, discarding his light as well. "Shut it Wise, we're not stayin' all night out here. Remember, there's stuff we're gonna have to get back to at the base."
They were going to kill him. The notion came clear, simple, and set the heart racing.
So, Juvia forced herself to feel some gratitude, not expecting the heave of effort it would actually take. It was for revenge on her roommates, a cause she should have supported, would have, at least somewhat, not two days ago. But, the recent light of events, the strong evidence that her roommates had been less courteous than she'd thought, created a heavy weight that sat in her stomach. There was no black and white; the whole world was turning to different shades, and she couldn't react. Everything was too….
Gray, responded. "About that, look, I came to tell you this woman isn't on our side, and you're wasting your time. You should be running back to your buddies, they need all the help they can get." It almost sounded, helpful. But that could not be true; no one would ever take a risk for her. Juvia spared a glance up to his face, only to find he was staring her down, and for the moment, she was caught between inexplicable embarrassment and awe.
"What do you mean?" Wise cracked, and his hand clenched into a fist, drew her attention on him. His knees were flexing a bit, him becoming something of an oily spring.
Harold was doing the opposite; standing back and keeping calm, though Juvia was sure he must have been thinking of a plan.
How long would this drag out? All three of these men were bad news for her. She really should have taken the opportunity in the middle of their conversation, a simple step off the dock, one decision, and she was still withholding, wanting to know what was happening first, why Gray had shown up, if the trouble he referred to was also the same as she'd heard about. Pointless, as it wouldn't mean anything, surely her mind was just doing a mental trick to procrastinate demise; but, she assured herself, that as soon as it was over, she'd take leave.
Very shortly. Once she got her wonderings settled.
Gray so far hadn't exactly made clear what he was doing there, aside of warning his enemies, which she obviously didn't take to be the main reason. "The police are raiding the Oak district tonight, and reports are it has not been good for your friends."
"You Fairy Tail scum are the one's who tipped the cops, I know it! You fuckin' destructives shitty wingless pixies." She was stuck watching the greased man's spring coil tighter and tighter, the fabric of his coat and pants bunching in his joints, stretching on the muscle. From his front side, came a grinding sound, a painful revolting noise. She couldn't see what it was before he lunged, the tension finally releasing and the wind in him letting loose a hoarse accusation.
"Can't believe you cowards, not even gonna' fight us yourselves! Big pack of wussie's!"
Juvia, anchored, literally, in place, witnessed the charge. This was it, she should have been cheering the black haired Phantom man if anything, but no, in that second, she felt a sense of relief?
Yes, traitorous, obscure relief; from some disgraceful, unreasonable unconsciousness inside her that still didn't want to see Gray's beauty, and his intelligence, destroyed. That humming part of her that never listened to reason and did whatever it wanted to; often intended against her it seemed. It was humming a loud spiteful tune now, telling Wise he'd made a mistake. Gray used guns, and all Wise had pulled in the charge was a little clam dagger. Then Gray countered, and it turned out she needn't even have worried whether or not he carried.
He bolted for his attacker, sliding over the planks, and made the next move look so easy she was sure anyone could have pulled it off. It happened rapidly too, for there was Wise, now on the ground, slumped over, butt in the air, eyelids closed like a thumb sucking infant in the crib. Gray had swung his arm up as Wise's came down, like in dance, and knocked the aggressors weapon aside. His other hand, came without grace, and all force, catching the not so 'wise' man in the skull, closed fist, knuckles bared. And to finish it off, the grimy head had smacked down into the wooden planks right after, concussing then, if not already.
Of course, that cocky awestruck chord in her sang; he was professional; she really shouldn't have expected anything less than perfection. Then she shut that voice out, giving it an aggravated slap.
Wide expectant eyes found Harold, the more calculative of the pair. Soon, she thought, her heart pattering a little faster, it would be just her and Gray left.
Harold sighed, and from his pocket removed the very item Juvia had been waiting to see earlier. He didn't use it though, just kept it aside his hip, and let everyone catch a glimpse. The atmosphere instantly chilled, or perhaps that was just her projection. Harold though, unlike his partner, did not react vehemently.
"Alright, let's get back to talkin', I'm a little older and not high strung like my bud, he's still at that age where he thinks he knows everything. I'm also not all for killin' women, so if you can convince me why I'd believe you, I'll just take my buddy and you can have her."
"Yeah, that's fine." Gray replied, nudging his way past the dormant man. As he stepped closer, Juvia stepped back; no…no, no, no.
Not again.
She refused to go back to another hostage situation. She still could jump, she still would jump. The conversation carried on oblivious to her.
"We didn't tip the cops, Fairy Tail was coming after you personally until the raids started. When we heard, we decided to give it a break, call it a favor. As far as I know, you're losing a lot of turf and people and it seems most are fleeing, at this point, we haven't seen much action from hierarchy."
Harold was quiet for a moment, obviously studying Gray's stern expression. She couldn't read it, and didn't know if Harold saw anything.
"So it's shit, and you expect I just drop everything and run. " He mused, and motioned toward her with a tip of his head. "What are you doing with her, if she's not yours?"
"She's not one of you either." Gray's tone grew noticeably hard.
"That's not what I asked."
Answer it, Juvia waited breathlessly to hear the reply. Here came the subject she'd been waiting for, the one thing she wanted to know above all. Gray had come specifically for her, that speculation had been proven so, now why? What value did she have for him? Surely, Fairy Tail hadn't thought they could pry more out of her through a second round. There was a phrase Aria had taught her for things like that, what was it? Why beat the dead horse.
Wise rolled over to his back at Gray's feet.
"Doesn't matter, she won't be staying with you." It was an obvious threat, which rattled her bones as much as the roaring seas.
Thinking of the past, going over what information they had or could have considered her useful for, Juvia found one plausible. It had to be the books. They had to have wanted her back to decode them; and it was with regret that she realized she'd outwitted their star genius. It have been better off, for both parties, if the books had been easily ciphered, if no one had to come back to find the scripter. Fairy Tail must have been furious.
After a moment's pause, filled of malicious crashing and snarling, the waters growing more and more agitated, Harold replied. His voice was thoughtful, cautious, and as he spoke, he pocketed the deadly scrap of metal back in its place. At first Juvia couldn't comprehend the action, she'd felt so much safer the one time she had aimed a cylinder on Gray, however, his words explain.
"Fairy Tail, hm, you guys really are a bunch of cocky son of bitches." Harold grunted, but he let out a melancholy chuckle afterward, that wiped the insult clean. "I know my limits, and yeah, I'd bet I'd be done pretty quickly if I even put a bullet in one of your feet. As it seems now, Phantom Lord may not be around to shield my ass. So guess that, you win, mine for yours. Just promise me one thing."
Gray twisted a steady eyebrow; Juvia stood in shock of the ease with which the old man surrendered to someone half his age.
"The kid and I, we don't want to be shot the second we step away. Or coming off the docks, there's no buddies of yours waiting to off us there, yeah?"
Gray smirked, the second time Juvia had seen such an expression. "Heh, you're good. We have other business of higher priority than the two of you."
With another few hesitant seconds, Harold nodded; Gray stepped away from the comatose man at his toes, toward her. Don't go, but the old man had already scuttled to his buddy, had an arm under his shoulders, and was dragging him back toward the car. Her clairvoyant fears of earlier reemerged, only Gray and her remained, just like back in the apartment, the age old cliché: predator and prey.
The world must have spun clockwise, reset time, so that every last excruciation could be rediscovered, relived.
That questioning disgruntled countenance had been fixed back on her, for reasons unknown, asking something secretly. It was worse than the nonchalance he showed the first time, was now probing, and undoubtedly growing more and more frustrated with each motionless second. What did he want? Or was this his way of expressing his anger for the difficulty she'd presented?
But, this time, she was prepared for the worst, she'd accepted the only other way out, and her muscles remained committed, no matter what mental state she fell into, like Aurora to the spindle. Her foot slid back, chain clinking once, the noise surely only heard to her ears. He watched, a jet gaze shifting to her feet, the cheap rigging, and back up to hers, taking the accessory in whole. The lips stayed clamped though, until she risked moving the other heel.
Gray's face narrowed, with cold accusation and stern recognition. However, before anyone could say a word, Harold was shouting again, from the drivers' door, illuminated by the interior lights. His arm raised tall in the air, swung seeking attention. He hurried back, and a couple strides away, tossed a dark object, small enough to fit in one's palm. Gray caught it without struggle.
"Here, I doubt you brought a bolt cutter with ya'." And then he returned to the vehicle, clearly not staying a second more than necessary. As Gray fiddled the present with his fingers, the car engine groaned, and reversed into a sauntering speed, disappearing into a smaller and smaller dot.
She stepped back once more, and finally met the edge.
(end of chapter: afternotes)
Wow! I am not used to reviews, so the feedback on the story has been soo soo soo great! Thank you, for all those who have read it, and bigger thanks for the reviews and favorites.
It's coming along slow and melodramatic (trust me, I too am hoping to get into more Fairy Tail action); we'll be jumping into more exciting stuff soon. However, the updates will probably pace out a bit due to school, work, (the normal humdrum). Characters will also start to spice up a bit and hopefully get more into the Fairy Tail roles, it's something I'm workin' on, and which I know this story will soon desperately need.
That said, I'd always love more feedback!
Next chapter, will have a defining moment between the two leads, ANNDDD Erza, Natsu, and Lucy will come into script! I'll try to get it out within a week to week and a half.