● BLACK ▪ BLUE● ¤Gruvia¤

•7•

Wind On The Beach
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"It has to be perfect," Pantherlily muttered as he polished a table. It took him twice as long as somebody else, because of his amazingly small size. "Gajeel said it has to be perfect for Miss Juvia…"

"What has to be perfect?" Carla asked, putting down her tea.

"Juvia's birthday is tomorrow," Gajeel told the tiny white cat, walking by. "It'll be her coming of age, eighteen. Also, it'll be the first birthday she's ever had that had in the sun."

"Aww, so you're trying to make it all nice for her?" Levy asked teasingly. "Such a good friend."

"Sh-shut up!"

Levy knew full well not to be jealous of Juvia. She'd learned that a long time ago, though their relationship seemed romantic at first glance. Gajeel was simply her best friend, and he took care of her through thick and thin. The bookworm actually found it quite endearing, and it let her know that Gajeel was nice and warm underneath the cold and hard exterior.

"I didn't know it was Juvia's birthday tomorrow!" Lucy gasped. "I need to buy her something! What does she like?"

"Uhh…" Gajeel seemed at a loss. He crossed his arms, eyes flicking around as he thought. "Sh-she likes… stuff. Yeah. Cooking. And sewing. She was going on about needing some new green silk for a project she's working on… A new pan. I accidentally ate her last one."

"How do you accidentally eat someone's cooking supplies?" Levy asked, baffled.

"I was kind of out of it. A little bit drunk. And hungry."

"I stopped him from eating the handle," Lily said, somewhat proud.

"You stopped me from eating the best part," Gajeel snapped. "Really, I'd finished the rest, why not just let me eat the handle?!"

"I don't know! It didn't seem right to let you eat Miss Juvia's things!"

"Green silk… A pan..." Gray was writing down on a napkin, then tucked it in his pocket. "Got it."

They all stared at him.

"You're getting Juvia a present?" Levy asked.

Gray sputtered, "You make me sound like I'm heartless!"

Gajeel gripped Gray's arm and yanked him close so he could whisper in his ear. "What did I say about screwing around with Juvia's feelings?"

Gray squirmed in Gajeel's grip, then hissed back, "It's just a present. Everyone will be getting her one. Chill!"

"Oh, am I breaking something up?"

Lucy swiveled around at the voice. "Loke! What are you doing-"

"It's Juvia's birthday tomorrow, isn't it?" Loke smiled and reached into his coat pocket, slipping his other arm flirtatiously around Lucy's waist. "I promise I'm not here to tease you, Lucy, I'm just here to give these to Juvia." He produced two tickets. "Got two tickets to a nice resort on the beach!"

Gajeel snatched them out of Loke's hands and stared at them.

Lucy sighed, putting her head in her hands. "I sometimes wonder how you get these things. First Akane Resort, now this fancy shindig that I've never heard of?"

"Ah, Lucy, you insult me. Me, do something scandalous?" Loke put a hand over his heart, flinching as though he'd been wounded. "Unfortunately, I'm not going to be available tomorrow, that's why I'm here now. I promised Aries that we could do some training together."

"I really appreciate you taking such good care of Aries," Lucy said, smiling.

"Of course! Aries is like my precious little sister, after all." Loke smiled and pulled his sleeve up, checking his watch. "I've got a date tonight, so I have to go. Tell Juvia happy birthday for me!"