Gajeel Redfox: The Big Softy

Gray's Turn

Gray was going to do it.

He was going to go up to her and say it. However, the Ice Mage's feet stayed put as he watched the girl before him. She had just returned and was being bombarded by everyone in the guild who had been worried. He was honestly glad that everything had worked out because she looked much happier, and brighter than when she had left.

Two days ago had been an eye opener for Gray. Never in all of his time of knowing the Water Mage had he thought that his actions would lead to what had happened. After the Master had talked with him and banned him from being allowed to tag along with the others, it gave him the chance to get the guts to tell Juvia that he wanted to talk when she got back.

Now she was back. And he was still standing there, merely watching from the sidelines as she greeted her Nakama. It had only been two days, he told himself, but over those two measly days, Gray had thought long and hard about the Master's words.

Now he just had to tell her.

After a few more minutes of staring in her direction, ignoring the momentary thought that their roles had somehow switched, he realized that most of the guild members had subsided. This was his chance to talk to her. He gulped, tightening his fists in determination as he walked up to her from behind. "J-Juvia?" Smooth Gray, smooth.

She turned around and blinked. Gray was worried on how she would react to seeing him. He watched as she shared a glance with Gajeel, who seemed to be going towards the back of the room, most likely to see Gramps. His worries seemed to be in vain though as she turned back to him with a smile. "Yes, Gray-sama?"

He blinked. That wasn't the reaction he was expecting, but he was glad all the same. Though it did make his words falter from surprise. "I-I um, I wanted to tell you..." He trailed off, his mouth suddenly dry as he locked eyes with her. Were they always so blue and pretty..?

He blushed in embarrassment. That was such a Lyon line! What was wrong with him?! Juvia must have wondered the same thing as she gave a worried look. "Is Gray-sama alright?"

The Ice Mage shook his head. "Yes, I-I'm fine. I just.., I just wanted to tell you that I..." He sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Look, Juvia I-"

"Juvia knows."

He blinked as he looked up at her in surprise. It only grew as he found that she was looking down. What part of her face he could see looked very... sad. "Y-You do..?"

She nodded before looking up at him, his eyes widening as he looked at her expression. It was so...downcast. He had never seen her so sad before. The smile that was on her face and the look in her eyes told him that there was something wrong. Like she was broken, but her appearance also said that she had accepted it. Whatever it was, she was about to let him know.

"Yes, Juvia knows how Gray-sama feels..," He was about to say something, but she put her hand up, stopping him. "Let Juvia finish." There was a kind of pleading in her eyes that made him stop and nod. "Juvia knows and even if it will hurt Juvia," Her smile widened a bit, but it looked like she was trying not to burst into tears. Even so, her voice still had a firmness to it. "Even so, I just want you to be happy, Gray."

He was shocked, not just because of Juvia's sudden change in speech, but also because he realized what she was really saying to him. What she really meant. She went to leave but he couldn't let her do that. He couldn't stand there and watch another amazing woman in his life leave him behind.

She stopped as she felt him grab her arm. She didn't turn to look at him, only downward at their shadows lying across the floor, trying to keep herself from breaking down completely. But she listened as he explained.