"Juvia?" The classroom was dark, with the only light source being a small spot light over one of the tables. The aforementioned girl looked up, shock evident in her eyes. She hadn't been expecting anybody to be in the school building this late at night. It was only her, and a couple of teachers. Or so she had figured.

But there stood Gray Fullbuster, his raven-hair illuminated by the emergency lights in the hall. He was holding onto a portfolio, and a canvas in his hands, looking like he was completely expecting to have the art room to himself. But he hadn't known that the bluenette tended to stay behind to either work on her concentration pieces or help the teacher clean up the studio. Gray cleared his throat, and set his canvas on the table so he could grab an easel.

"Juvia didn't realize that Gray-sama would be coming after school. She would have left some of the lights on if she'd known…" The light switches were in the supply closet - which the teacher had locked until she came back in a half-hour. "She can turn on a lamp or something so that you can see."

Truth be told, Gray was still shocked. He wasn't expecting to find Juvia, of all people in the art room. He hadn't even known that she was interested in art. But there she was, a piece of paper laid across the table, and a pack of pastels next to her. Shaking his head, he responded quietly. "Nah, I can come by the table to get light. Don't worry about it." The girl's cheeks flared with color, and she snapped her head down to stare at the work.

"I didn't know you were into art," he said, after a couple moments of uncomfortable silence.

"Juvia likes to draw nature," she responded, setting down the green pastel, and glancing over towards Gray. "But she used her last set of concentration pieces to try sewing. Oil painting is more of Juvia's thing, but she's trying to broaden her skill range. What does Gray-sama like to do?"

"I like to sculpt things. But when I draw, I draw people." Another moment of silence, before Juvia coughed quietly. "I'm doing my concentration on people at this school."

"That sounds nice," Juvia smiled nervously, turning around so that she was facing him. "Can Juvia see some of your work?"

"Eh? Yeah, sure. I'm keeping the two I have done in the drying rack. So far I did Natsu and Lucy, 'cuz I see them so much." He led Juvia over to the rack, and pulled out the one of Natsu - he had a scowl on his face, and a look in his eyes like he was itching for a fight. Of course, Juvia had heard of (and seen) Gray and Natsu's infamous fights. She smiled slightly at the picture, and looked back at Gray. He was scratching the back of his head, and tapping his foot.

"I've been lookin' for someone else to paint… Erza's been too busy with her student council stuff right now. Do you mind sitting for a while?"

A blush lit up Juvia's face, and she was stuttering for an answer. Instead of speaking, she nodded her head, and sat down in the spot she'd been in before.

"Just tell Juvia what to do."

"Well… You look pretty when you smile, so you could do that," he muttered, absentmindedly. Now looking as red as a tomato, Juvia brushed her hands against her skirt, effectively flattening down her skirt. But she couldn't help smiling at the compliment he had given her, no matter if it was intentional or not. "Lemme just adjust… the lighting…" A second later, the light flashed straight into Juvia's blue eyes, causing her to flinch involuntarily.

"Ack - sorry!"

"Juvia is fine!" The bluenette smiled at him, and tilted her head slightly to the side.

She narrowly avoided a flick of blue paint that had been coming right for her at that moment. "Ah! Gray-sama!"

"Wha-?" Juvia had bent down, and grabbed a small piece of used chalk to flick at him. She prayed to Mavis that it wouldn't injure him in any way.

And that is how a full on art war began.

Juvia had retreated to her oil paints, while Gray had full use of the palette in front of him. Paint flew across the studio, smacking against walls and windows. Pink, red, and blue decorated Juvia's school uniform, while Gray's was speckled with shades of blue and black. A masonite board became Juvia's shield of choice, while the raven-haired boy used his canvas to protect himself.

It wasn't the kind of fighting he was used to - there was a distinct lack of fists or pyrotechnics - but it was still interesting. The bluenette had excellent aim, for someone who wasn't used to fighting with others. She even shocked herself sometimes when she hit him.

The fight seemed to last for ages - and it only ended when there was a cough at the door. Stood in the frame, was the short figure of Principal Makarov. He had a stern glare on his face, but his eyes were shimmering with amusement.

"You two brats are going to have to clean this mess up, understand?" Keeping them after school so late would usually be considered cruel, but Makarov knew that both culprits were boarding students, which meant they stayed at the dorms.

"Juvia is sorry, Principal Makarov!" cried the girl, setting down her jar of oil paint. The principal only chuckled, and left the room.

It was silent for another moment, before Juvia began to giggle. "Juvia had a fun time."

"Yeah? So did I," Gray smiled, before taking out his camera. He still did need a subject for his next piece…

"Can you come back over here for a minute?" he asked, pointing back at the seat. "I never got the reference for my painting."

Juvia only smiled, and sat down in front of him, her grin as wide as ever. Gray chuckled, before taking a couple pictures, adjusting the lighting and position between each one.

A/N: I like this one. And I've always wanted to do a Fairy Tail Academy AU, as well. So this was fun to experiment with. c: