She's In Your Court

Chapter 9: The Way to Mr. Lockser's Heart

I sat down on a log, took her on my lap
She said wait a minute bud, you got to see my pap
He's gotta sixteen gauge choked down like a rifle
He don't like a man that's gonna trifle.

Gray drove down to Magnolia's quietest and richest summer destination, just outside the city, where the most affluent upstate residents go to breathe some fresh air. Juvia sent him the address last night, informing him that the Juvia's father invited him for the weekend at the Lockser townhouse.

Apparently, His Excellency, Julian Lockser, Magnolia Ambassador to the Alvarez Empire, liked to grill during his free time. It had become some sort of tradition, whenever he came home from his official travels, to laze around and enjoy weekend barbecues with his family. Mostly, it was only him, Olivia and Juvia. For this weekend, however, they included Gray.

After the initial surprise, and some sort of throwing his hands around he called his 'happy dance', a little devil Gray popped up on his shoulder to remind him that calling him down the beach paradise was Ambassador Julian Lockser's version of showing him his gun collection. It was, after all, a time-honored dating tradition to torture the boyfriend. And the idea wasn't too outside the ream of possibilities. The guy seemed like the type who'd seen things: ugly, under-the-radar, CIA information-acquiring secret techniques and looked like he watched and enjoyed it.

Julian Lockser was a James Bond Russian Mafia Evil Boss replica.

"I don't know what you're so worried about, Juvs. I'm a delight!" He spoke over, having Juvia on bluetooth.

"I should have driven with you here." Juvia said repentantly.

"Relax, babe. The Camaro's up for a long drive anyway. Besides, I got my girls here to entertain me." Gray felt the sudden need to clear things up lest his girlfriend misunderstood. "I-I meant Mariah Carey, you know that right?"

"Why? Are you driving with her to my house?"

The two shared a soft chuckle, starting up their usual friendly banters. When that died down, silence followed. Gray easily read into that one.

"You don't need to worry about me, okay? I'm a grown man."

"Says who?"

"You know, one of the many things I like about you is your impeccable sense of humor." Gray brushed the jab at him off with humor.

"Fine." Juvia submitted. As much as she liked their verbal flirtations, Gray needed to focus on his driving. She wanted him to actually make it to her. "I'll see you soon?" She asked, her voice now laced with tenderness and loving.

"I'll see you, baby."

Gray waited for the familiar sound of an ended call. He then removed the bluetooth piece off his ear and dropped the pod at what supposed to be the car's cup holder. Finally off the phone, he expelled a sharp breath to ground the tension he had been feeling, and hiding, since the morning. Mask off.

"Okay, Fullbuster." He adjusted the rearview mirror, dark blue eyes stared sharply at his reflection and began a monologue. "You can do this. This is just a hiccup you can totally overcome."

His mind travelled back to the night he first met Julian Lockser.

"You had your tongue down his daughter's throat. Of course, he's not gonna like you."

Way to make a first impression.

The man definitely hated him. Instead of receiving a warm welcome, Gray had the door slammed at his face, twice. So, imagine his surprise when Juvia told him it was the Ambassador's idea to have him over the weekend. He thought maybe he was warming up to him a little bit. So, Gray concocted a plan.