Author's Note: Hello! School's starting again so who knows when I'll be updating this thing again, sigh. But I have plenty more ideas that will get written once my writing mojo returns to me! Thank you very much for reading so far!

title: lying underneath those stormy skies
second genre: angst
rating: T
summary: And I just can't live without you, can't you see it in my eyes?

It happened in an instant.

Their opponent was cold and calculating, equipping himself with a magic that disabled Juvia's water body. But Gray hadn't realized it until she was struck, and her blood—a sickening dark red—splattered against the floor. He was stunned, but she was worse, visibly shaken from the sharp sting of physical pain. Fear immobilized her, and Gray had to carry her out of the way of another attack.

She quickly pulled herself together—she had to, they were in the middle of battle—and commanded the water. Together, with his ice magic, they began to dominate and overpower their enemy.

But it's truly amazing how things can change in a split second.

She heard something he didn't—the sounds of bullets loading. Her mouth opened, ready to scream his name and warn him, but instinct took over and she pushed him out of the way instead.

She was water, she'd be fine. So she thought.

All he could do was watch as each hit struck her body and more and more of her blood stained the ground.

She fell with a sickening thud, motionless, hair sprawled messily over her face and some blood dribbling from her lips.

Gray stared, frozen.

He couldn't remember what happened next.

When he came to, the land was decimated, and their enemy, along with the hidden ally who had snuck up on them, were lying dead, brutally killed.

Regaining a sense of clarity, Gray looked to Juvia. A rush of panic rushed through him.

She wasn't getting up.

He was at her side in an instant, staring in desperation for any indication of life. His chest tightened, his breath stilling in his throat. When he caught a glimpse of her strained breathing, he took a gasp of air.

She was alive—but barely. And she was crying.

He hastily froze her blood to stall the bleeding, but she was so sickly pale and her eyes were dull and god, there was so much blood.

"Gr… Gray… sa…"

Too much blood.

He shook his head. "It's okay. You're going to be okay."

Tears were slipping down her cheeks.

His jaw clenched, teeth grinding together. "Juvia… why would you…"

"S… Sorry…"

"Don't," he said quickly, messily wiping her tears away with his palm. "Don't do that, don't—you're going to be okay. You are, okay?"

She blinked slowly, her lashes heavy and wet. "I'm scared…"

"I'm right here," he murmured in quiet urgency, taking her hand and pressing it to his bare chest. His heartbeat raced beneath her palm, terrified. "The others will be here soon, and Wendy'll heal you—"

"Gray…"

Her skin was getting paler with each passing second.

"Just hang on," he said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't let go of my hand, okay? They're coming."

Her eyes watered. "Juvia doesn't… want to go…"

Her hand was growing colder and colder.

"Save your strength," he said gently.

Fresh tears rolled down her face. "Juvia… wants to stay… with Gray…"

His grip tightened around her trembling hand, but then he noticed it wasn't her hand shaking, but his.

"Stay with me. Just stay with me."

He kept replaying the memory in his head, wondering where it all went wrong. If only he'd been more alert, if only he'd reacted fast enough—

God, he was so fucking useless. Just like all those years ago. Nothing but helpless to watch the life of another important person fade away before his eyes.

Something wet hit his thigh. His tears.

Her heart broke.

"Please… don't…"

He shut his eyes. "Juvia…"

Weakly, she squeezed his hand. His eyes opened, flashing to her face.

"Juvia… has no regrets…"

"Don't talk like that," he chided, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "Don't talk like—damn it, you're going to be fine, okay?" His hand fell as he looked around him. "Wendy! Natsu! Where the fuck are you?!"

She breathed slowly, a short, wheezed breath. Her eyes strained to stay open.

"Gray…"

He whipped his head to her, eyes wide, desperate and scared.

She gave a teary, beautiful smile.

"I… love you…"

"Juvia…"

He clutched her hand as his head lowered, bangs hiding his eyes.

"Please… Don't leave. Not you too."

The sky darkened. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Rain began to fall, washing away the blood from her face.

"Gray! Juvia!"

His head snapped towards the voice, finding Natsu, Lucy and Wendy rushing towards him. A wave of relief washed over him, easing the rigid tension in his body. Looking to Juvia, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"Hey, you're going to be okay. They're—Juvia?"

Her eyes were closed, face fallen to the side. She lay motionless, cold and unmoving.

Panic settled in.

"Juvia. Juvia!" He gathered her in his arms, shaking her. "Hey! Hey! Open your eyes!"

Soft footsteps approached from behind.

"No…" Lucy whispered, covering her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. She turned to Natsu and collapsed in his chest, his own body trembling in silent fury.

"Juvia! Open your eyes! Look at me! Damn it, look at me!"

Wendy buried her face in her hands.

"No! This isn't happening! Juvia! Juvia!"

Natsu closed his eyes.

Gray held her body to him, face buried in her hair as angry tears burned down his cheeks.

An anguished scream pierced through the icy rain, and no matter how hard it poured, it never washed the blood away from his hands.