It's Monday! I got some wildly different reactions to the hair, which made me chuckle.
Also, someone was asking where the Nalu is going in this fic. I figured I'd address it here, since others may be wondering as well. I know it's sort of left focus for the last few chapters, but it'll come back. The ultimate goal here will be for that subplot will be for them to make progress in their relationship, and get beyond the whole flirty tension phase. I'm just not very good at balancing my different subplots. :) As a result, we're probably going to see a bit of a slow build on them during the first half of the plot, with more focus of them later in the plot, after we've challenged their relationship a little.
That said, we've got a fun chapter this week. Hope you enjoy!
- K. Chandler
It didn't take much to let herself into Gray's room.
No, the hardest part was making herself wait until he was well and truly asleep. Gray had spent the evening in hushed conversation with his redheaded attendant well past midnight. Doubtless, they were discussing critical affairs of state. Gray really did work too hard.
But finally, they both retired for the night, and Juvia let herself in.
Juvia crept into the bedchamber of her beloved, careful not to wake him. He needed his rest, and it wouldn't do to disturb him.
First, Juvia slipped her pendant into Gray's bags. He didn't have to be embarrassed about accepting her feelings anymore. How pleased he'd be to find her hairy token of love when he got home!
"A present from a lover so very far away," Juvia sighed.
And now, for a lock of Gray's hair.
The butter knife had been difficult to cut her hair with. The ends of her sawed off curl were still frizzy from the impromptu sheering. She couldn't do that to Gray. She needed something sufficiently sharp.
Juvia pulled out the knife that she had borrowed. It hadn't been easy to slip into the kitchen undetected, but she had managed.
Tiptoeing to his bedside, Juvia lingered above Gray's sleeping figure. He looked so peaceful. So handsome.
She smiled to herself, sighing softly. This was even better than watching him from afar. And certainly, better than viewing him from her scrying bowl!
Gray stirred, mumbling sleepily and rubbing at his nose.
How adorable! Juvia laughed to herself softly, leaning over him. She adjusted her grip on the worn wooden handle of the knife.
Gray's eyes flew wide. He jerked upright with a startled yell, swearing loudly. Magic spurting from his fingertips, Gray scampered backwards, tumbling off the bed with a crash. He swore again.
"It's okay. It's okay, it's just me, darling," Juvia said, waving her hands in the air. One was empty, the other still clutched at the knife.
"What is wrong with you?" Gray shouted, a malformed ice-shield still at his fingertips. "What are you doing in my room? With that?"
Juvia tucked her arm behind herself hastily. In hindsight, maybe scissors would have been better.
"I—I just wanted a lock of your hair," she said.
"My… hair?!"
"Since I gave you one of mine. It seemed only fair," Juvia said.
Before Gray could respond, a door opened. His attendant appeared from the servants' quarters in full armor, ready to come to her master's aid. Dressed like that, Juvia would almost think her a bodyguard.
"What's going on? Highness? Is everything all right?" she asked.
"Not really, no."
The door to Gray's room opened, and Lucy popped her head inside.
"I heard a crash and yelling," Lucy said, fidgeting with the silk of a nightgown. "Is everything all right? What are you doing on the floor?"
"What am I—" Gray sputtered, jerking his glance from one woman to another. "Why don't you ask Juvia!"
"Why, you invited me, of course," Juvia said, batting her eyes.
This was the perfect opportunity to convince the others that she and Gray were an item.
"Ah. I see how it is..." The corners of Lucy's mouth turned up. She edged towards the door. "Maybe I should go… I don't want to interrupt."
Maybe, if his friends accepted it, Gray would be more willing to show his feelings?
"I invited you?" Gray sputtered.
No such luck.
"Don't you remember, darling? Asking me to meet you here?"
"All I remember is you standing over my bed with a knife in your hand!"
Juvia battered her eyes again.
Lucy studied them, her expression shifting as her mouth rounded to an 'O'.
"And whatever you're thinking, stop it," Gray barked. "That's not what happened."
"I wouldn't have pegged you for a knives in bed type, Gray," Lucy said. "Don't worry. I'm not judging."
Gray gaped, jaw opening and closing like a fish with no sound coming out.
"Juvia, come with me." Lucy grabbed Juvia's hand and dragged her out of the room.
'I wouldn't have pegged you for the knives in bed type'?! Of all things? Why had she said that? What did that even mean?
Lucy kept her head down, face burning as she plowed out of the room with Juvia in tow, stopping only when she was sure they were out of earshot.
"A knife, Juvia? Really?" Lucy demanded.
Juvia started to shake her head, but Lucy forced her arms up and patted her down for a weapon.
No knife.
Juvia's brows drew into a little 'V'.
Lucy shrank back, almost wishing she actually had found a knife. Why had she jumped to conclusions and doubted Juvia? She should have gotten both sides of the story.
"What happened back there, Juvia?"
Juvia bit her lip, shoulders lifting like she was shrugging. "One minute everything was fine. The next minute, Gray was yelling."
"But he's not usually like that," Lucy said. "You didn't… do something else to set him off, did you?"
Juvia shrugged again, her gaze steady and unblinking. She was telling the truth. Paranoia made Gray more high-strung than most, but if Juvia had said something triggering, she really didn't know.
"What were you doing in his room anyways?" Lucy tried again.
"I just wanted to talk with him."
"That's fine, but you can't just go barging into people's rooms in the middle of the night," Lucy said. "Next time, knock first, okay?"
"Like you knocked?"
"That was different," Lucy said. "Look, Gray's usually easy to get along with. Let me try to smooth things over with him tonight. And when you see him tomorrow, think about apologizing. Everything'll be okay. You'll see."
Lucy went back to Gray, hoping he was in a better mood.
He wasn't.
"I know you wanted me to give her a second chance, but come on! Breaking into someone's room in the middle of the night?!"
"It was all a misunderstanding," Lucy said. "Is it possible that you said something that she might have misinterpreted?"
Gray scowled. "You're joking, right?"
"I just talked with her. I don't think Juvia was trying to be threatening. She just didn't know any better. She wouldn't hurt you, Gray."
"You seem awfully sure about that."
"Haven't you seen the way her eyes light up when you're around?"
"All I can see is her weird obsession with me. It's creeping me out."
"She doesn't mean anything weird by it. Juvia's a good person, and she clearly likes you," Lucy said. "I know she has a funny way of showing it sometimes."
"Mhm-hm. Standing over someone's bed with a knife. That's real funny," Gray said.
Lucy sucked in a breath. "Are you sure that's what happened?"
"Why would I lie about something like that?"
Lucy put her hands up in what she hoped was a placating manner. "Is it possible that you imagined it?
"You think I'm crazy." Gray's was mouth pressed into a thin line.
"No! Of course not!" Lucy flapped her hands. "I would never. But… Juvia did wake you up. Maybe you were dreaming? And you thought you saw something?"
"I know what I saw," Gray said.
"Gray…" Lucy frowned. "There was no knife. I searched her myself."
"But… I saw…"
"Regardless, Juvia shouldn't have snuck into your room like that. I've already talked with her, and I've asked her to apologize. Maybe we can consider the matter settled?"
Gray nodded stiffly. "Fine."
Water tumbled over layered rocks, flowing into a little lake that only came up as high as Juvia's chest.
"Isn't it pretty?" Lucy asked. "The waterfall is one of my favorite spots."
Juvia wrinkled her nose. This little thing was hardly a waterfall. But it wasn't unpleasant, Juvia had to admit.
"Where's Gray?" Juvia asked. "Isn't he joining us?"
"He'll be along later," Lucy said. "He's claiming that, after last night, he needs the extra sleep."
What was Lucy talking about? What had that witch done with Gray?!
"Maybe we should keep the nighttime disruptions to a minimum, right Juvia?" Lucy said.
"I couldn't agree more," Juvia said coldly.
Lucy relaxed slightly, nodding. Then she grinned. "What're we waiting for? Last one in's a wilted Magnolia!"
Both Lucy and Natsu had stripped down and were wading around in bathing suits, splashing each other like children.
"Natsu!" Lucy shrieked. "You're gonna get me all wet!"
"Kinda the point, isn't it?" Natsu asked.
"Come on in, Juvia! The water's great," Lucy called.
Juvia lowered herself into the lake. She wasn't afraid of water, thank you very much.
"Juvia, heads up!" Lucy shouted, slapping at the surface of the water and sending a ripple of water in Juvia's direction.
The water crested over Juvia's face, leaving her soaked.
For a moment, Juvia considered retaliating with her water powers, but she wasn't sure that was fair. She might actually drown someone that way.
Wouldn't it be funny if Lucy drowned?
Natsu cackled, sending waves toward them.
"Natsu, you jerk!" Lucy laughed, swiping wet hair from her face. "Let's get him back, Juvia. Here. Just like this."
Lucy cupped water in her palms and flung it towards the Prince of Draghi. They were both laughing. It wasn't a very effective way to fight.
She'd show them.
Juvia submerged, diving for Natsu's ankles. She swept him off balance, sending him crashing into the water with a splash.
"There you go!" Lucy said, grinning broadly. "Nice one, Juvia!"
"Wha—hey!" Natsu spluttered. He surfaced, his hair plastered to his face. "Not cool!" he moaned.
"Serves you right," Lucy said.
Natsu scooped Lucy up. She squealed.
"What do you think you're doing?" Lucy giggled.
"What's it look like? I'm kidnapping the princess," Natsu said.
"Put me down!" Lucy pounded against Natsu's back with her fists. "Natsu!"
"Down?"
"Yes!"
"Okay? If you say so!" Natsu said, dropping Lucy in the water.
Lucy screamed as she was dropped into the lake with a loud splash. Juvia couldn't help but laugh at that.
"Natsu!" Lucy whined.
"What?" Natsu asked, his cheeky grin belying his innocence. "You said to put you down…"
"Not like tha…" Lucy trailed off, waving at someone on shore. "Look, it's Gray! Gray!"
He's come at last!
Juvia's handsome beau sat on the bank of the lake along with his attendant. Maybe it was for the best that Juvia had been unsuccessful in obtaining some of Gray's hair. He'd sure look silly with a chunk of it missing.
"Come on in, the water's great!" Lucy shouted.
Gray waved back, making no move to join them.
"Gray, darling! You came!" Juvia cried, splashing her way over to him.
"Juvia," he said. "Good morning."
"We were waiting such a long time for you," Juvia said.
"Sorry. I needed a little extra time this morning," Gray said.
"You're just in time," Juvia said, extending a hand to him.
Gray shook his head. "That's okay. Why don't you enjoy yourself? I can watch from here."
"Don't you know how to swim?" Juvia asked.
"I do. I just don't want to."
"I'll stay here with you, then." Juvia climbed out of the water, perching on the bank next to him. "Honestly, I'm glad you came. I wanted to talk."
"About?"
Juvia leaned back, nestling her head in the crook of his neck. Suddenly, Gray's solid form melted beneath her. Juvia's head hit air as she tipped backwards. She flailed her arms.
Gray had stood up, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Gray?" she asked, her voice small. "Are you angry?"
Lucy had said Juvia should apologize. Was there something to that? Maybe Lucy was right for once.
"Will you sit back down if I apologize?" Juvia asked.
Gray's frown deepened.
"You know I would never do anything to upset you, darling. I'm sure it was all a misunderstanding."
"You're absolutely right," Gray said. "I think there has been a misunderstanding."
"I'm glad. I knew that my feelings would win out. Now we can go back—"
"No. There's no we here."
"What? But, darling, I don't understand," Juvia said.
"I figured as much," Gray sighed. "Look. Juvia, I don't accept your feelings. I won't."
"But… But you're Gray. And you're supposed to be the one who…"
"I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is."
"Why? Is there… someone else?"
Gray froze, his eyes darting to the side.
"I knew it," Juvia breathed. "You're seeing another woman."
Juvia's resentment grew like a balloon inflating within her chest. It pushed her lungs aside, making it hard to breathe.
Gray slackened. "We're not exactly seeing each other…" he sighed. "And you can't… you can't tell anybody, all right? Circumstances prevent us from being more open about it."
He was secretly dating Lucy? Why didn't Juvia see it before? Gray was always deferring to Lucy, listening to Lucy, watching Lucy. Even now, he wanted to watch her from the shore while she pranced around with Natsu.
"No… no, this isn't right," Juvia said.
"Excuse me?"
Why was it always Lucy? Lucy was perfect. Lucy was blameless.
"Do you love her?" Juvia asked.
"I think I've always been a little bit in love with her. There's no room in my heart for anyone else. If you don't understand anything else, please at least understand that."
Her darling Gray. He was untouchable, like the subject of a painting. An absolute work of art. She supposed she'd have to be content to admire him from afar.
Juvia clenched her jaw, her teeth grinding hard. She couldn't accept things as they were. No. She wouldn't!
She needed him to admit that he wanted her too… She knew he did. She was so sure! He just needed a little push. A little encouragement.
Reluctantly, Juvia tore herself away from Gray. She trudged back toward the water, wading along the swampy bank. Something caught around her ankle leaving an uncomfortable stinging sensation. Juvia reached down to free herself from the seaweed she had gotten tangled up in. Her fingers tingled at the contact.
Hartsting?
Juvia smiled. Maybe there was a way to get Gray to come to her.
Somebody on tumblr told me Juvia is supposed to be comic relief. Does that part in Gray's room count? XD
I hope my Lucy fans out there aren't too annoyed by her attempts at being the voice of reason. I'm trying to set up parallels between Juvia's obsession and Lucy's. :) Me trying to be artsy, lol.
That was a much more adamant rejection from Gray than we get in canon. Which means that we're on the cusp of moving into non-canon territory.
But I love how Juvia's brain points her right to Lucy as the love rival. You watched Gray talk with Erza, but that didn't trigger anything. But Lucy... of course, she's obviously your love rival! XD In Juvia's defense, Erza's just staff, so in a quasi-Medieval setting it wouldn't be the first or most obvious choice.
Next time, in Toxic, a twist, or just plain twisted: "I want you, Gray," she breathed. "Here. And now."
Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.
