Special Seasonings

Beware the gift of apples

My darling Gray-sama, look what Juvia has for you!" gushed Juvia, presenting the dark-haired ice mage with a box tied up with a red bow.

Gray, looking bored, glanced up at Juvia from where he was sitting at a guild hall table. "I can't imagine," he answered dryly, almost afraid to look in it. What had his stalker brought him this time? He hoped it wasn't another Juvia-looking doll. That had been beyond creepy!

"Open it up and see!" she gushed again in a sing-song voice. "Juvia promises you'll like it!"

"Oh for heavens sake, Gray, it's not like it's a bomb or something!" Erza said irritably sitting on his right side. "Juvia took the time to wrap it so prettily, the least you can do is show her some appreciation!" The two female mages passed an understanding look between the two.

"Fine," Gray sighed, not wanting to show he was the least bit interested. He untied the bow and hesitantly lifted off the lid. He peeked inside and was surprised to see a basket of apples.

"Juvia picked them just for you! Juvia's last job, the client had a beautiful orchard and told Juvia to pick for Juvia's heart's content."

"I think he meant to your heart's content," muttered Mira, earning a glare from both Juvia and Erza. "It's a sweet gift," she finished quickly, "so thoughtful! They look really yummy!"

"Yes, Gray, please try one!" Juvia added, leaning forward with an expectant expression, her hands folded in front of her as if she was begging. "Juvia knows you will love them!"

Gray briefly wondered if they were poisoned. He instantly berated himself for thinking so. Yeah, Juvia was his stalker, and she could be really annoying, but she would never hurt him. Still . . .

"Thank you, Juvia, they look nice," Gray said, placing the lid back on top of the box, "but I'm not hungry right now. I'll try one later."

Juvia's face fell. "If that is what Gray-sama wants," she answered sadly.

A guilty feeling flooded over Gray - helped by the reproachful glares he was getting from Mira and Erza - and he spoke before thinking it fully through. "Maybe we can eat them together later, okay?"

Juvia's cheeks grew pink and she clapped her hands excitedly. "Did Gray-sama just ask Juvia to dinner?"

"I - " began Gray, but Juvia had already fluttered away in her excitement, talking with Erza and Mira what she was going to wear to Gray's house. He sighed, wondering if somehow he had been tricked.

"What's up, ice princess? You look frustrated," a voice teased him from behind, before he felt a hand swipe him upside his head. "Let's fight!"

It was what he needed to calm his nerves about his "date."

"You're on!" Gray turned and glared at his pink-haired friend. "Prepare to be taken down, flame brain!"

A blonde-haired mage watched the two boys fighting across the room and sighed, resting her head in her hand.

"What's wrong, Lu?" asked her blue-haired friend. Her eyes looked in the direction of her friend's and she smiled knowingly. "Oh, it's Natsu, isn't it?"

"Well, we had planned to go on a job - my rent's due next week. However," Lucy sighed, "once he gets started with Gray, he won't let up until either someone stops them or they break something. Or someone."

"You know, Lu, there are other mages you could team up with," Levy teased.

"Oh, kind of like you? When's the last time you took a job with Jet or Droy? Seems to me you always seem to be with Gajeel and Lily!" Lucy teased back.

It was Levy's turn to blush. "Okay, fine. However, just for your info, Shadow Gear did go on a job last week!"

"'Kay," mumbled Lucy, still watching Gray and Natsu. Natsu was tossing an apple up and down in the air and for some reason, Gray looked pale. He tried swiping it from Natsu, but the fire mage was too quick. Natsu just grinned and took a bite out of the apple, mocking Gray, who had stopped and was watching him intently.

"Well, I guess if you're not dead by now, then they're safe," Gray's voice carried over to them. He went to go get the box, but Natsu laughed, knocking Gray on the head with the half eaten apple, grabbed the box, and ran out the door, still laughing like a mad man.