Forever Blue

Chapter 3

            Gray was fucked, and he knew it.

The important thing was, though, that she didn't know it.

He poured himself a second glass of scotch. What the hell, he thought as he took a sip. The fiery liquid warmed his cold veins instantly. He looked out the large windows, watching the rain fall.

Juvia wasn't what she appeared. Gray could see an anger behind her tears that he wasn't sure she even realized was there. He'd seen her clench her fists when he'd been pressing her, and he'd seen her give in moments later. There was something brewing under the sad waters of her surface. Strength? Despair? Gray didn't know, and really it didn't matter.

He thought about the way he had stared at her harshly, and those bright azure eyes had grown wide with fear. As if she'd thought he was going to hurt her. But that was the last thing Gray wanted to do.

He took another drink.

Gray knew it the moment she'd reached out and taken his hand in the bedroom that he'd do anything within his power to protect this girl. Hell, he admitted to himself, he'd known it when he'd first seen her at the office, despite everything he'd said to the others.

But why? Why was she having this effect on him? She was beautiful. Perfect curves hugged tight by her dress. The gentle curve of her jaw that led to the graceful line of her neck. Waving locks of blue that framed her face.

Her big eyes had stared at him in the kitchen as if she could read every thought that he'd had.

He knew she couldn't do that, though. If she could she'd have left running for the hills. Gray's thoughts as they he'd watched her walk away and up the stairs had been anything but honorable.

Gray needed to be a professional, he chided himself. This girl was in distress, even if he still didn't believe her story. Until he could prove to her that she was safe, he was going to be stuck with her. The last thing he needed was to make her feel like she wasn't safe from him. Hopefully this whole fiasco could be cleared up tomorrow.

Gray took a deep breath. He could do that, pretend he felt nothing. Hell, he'd been practicing that his whole life. Ever since his parents were killed when he was a kid, he'd always known that caring about anybody was a weakness it was best to not let other know you had.

This girl had gotten under his skin though, and he didn't know why. Had he suddenly grown some sort of hero complex and needed to rescue some damsel in distress?

Gray gave a quiet chuckle and took another sip. He knew he was no hero, not really. His job was to lock up the bad guys. What he really was, was an operative. Cold, heartless, merciless. He had to lead dangerous men into dangerous situations and make sure everyone came out of there alive- damsels and all.

So what was different about her?

A sudden scream from upstairs had him bolting up the steps in twos and threes. He drew his sidearm as he moved.

"Juvia!" He shouted as he burst into her room, scanning the room through the lens of his optic. The girl was sitting up in her bed, hands over her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. The room was otherwise untouched.

"Juvia," Gray called out again, moving to her side. He holstered his pistol and grabbed her shoulders, turning her towards him. "Are you okay? What happened?"

She was shaking violently. When she finally looked up at him to speak she stuttered, but nothing came out.

"Juvia," Gray said more gently this time, sensing whatever it was, the danger had passed. Instinctively he placed a calming hand on cheek. "What happened?"