Chapter Text
Gray woke up from his nap with the feeling of someone poking his cheek. He grumbled and turned his head, but the person didn’t give up. His eyes opened slowly, facing a serious Erza. She looked impatient.
“Come, we arrived. the others are outside just waiting for you.”
He rubbed his eyes groggily, took his suitcase and followed Erza out of the train. Natsu was sitting at the bench, waiting for the sickness to pass while Lucy stroked his hair. Wendy sat by their side, eyes closed and head up. It was the best she could do since she didn’t have a pillow (or Lucy’s thighs apparently) to rest her head against. Erza, in her general mode, rushed them to get better quickly. Natsu tried to say something, but stopped and covered his mouth before he puked in her shoes. Gray let out a chuckle.
“What is it, Gray-sama?” He looked at Juvia, who stared back at him with curiosity. It felt different having her around during a “team Natsu” mission.
Gray had been surprised when, the day before, Erza showed him a pamphlet and told them they were going on a mission. He had assumed that since they had recently returned from the one hundred years quest, the group would take some time to relax and take missions with other people. He needed that time, honestly, and since he had some things to take care of, he wasn’t feeling like going away so soon. He took the paper either way and read it. It was an easy mission with a big reward. He would have accepted it on another occasion, but he had some money stored from the quest’s end. He told Erza that he didn’t feel like it, but she didn’t falter.
“There’s no debate. I already told the requester that Team Natsu will be there tomorrow.”
Gray rolled his eyes.
“Erza, it’s not even in Magnolia. We’ll take more than a day to return and I want to stay by the guild for a while.”
Erza seemed to consider what he said before she spoke again, in a clearer voice. “Okay, then I’ll invite Juvia to go with us.”
Woah, what? Gray stood shocked as Erza went to talk to her blue haired friend. His first impulse was to stop her, but he thought better not to. Erza wouldn’t give up on the mission and inviting Juvia was a way to spend time with her, even if not the way he had planned. Gray had been thinking about a way to ask her out on a date ever since he got back in Magnolia. However, every time he thought he’d finally have courage, he just backed down. What was going on with him? He finally had come to terms with his feelings and even read that stupid book Minerva gave him! This should be an easy task for the man. Anyway, he was glad that Erza invited Juvia to come with them. Even if he didn’t have courage to confess yet, it was always nice being next to her.
"Gray-sama?"
Gray looked at Juvia, who was still by his side.
“It’s nothing, I’m just laughing at Natsu’s stupidity.”
“I heard that, ice prick!” Natsu yelled , sitting up from Lucy’s lap and pointing a finger at him. He seemed to have gotten better from the motion sickness “You want me to kick your ass?”
“More like I’ll kick yours, flame brain!” Gray tossed his coat aside and Juvia caught it from the ground.
Erza stopped the both of them before they started brawling in the middle of the train station. Then, she led the group to the main square of Aster village.
“You guys wait here by the fountain as I find out how to get to the inn. No fighting, okay?” Satisfied with Natsu and Gray’s enthusiastic yes, Erza went to search for information.
“Man, I really need to get some sleep.” Natsy grumbled
“I feel awesome.”
“Of course you do, Gray, you had a veeery comfortable pillow.”
Gray hissed at Natsu to shut up, but his blush was already giving him away. Yeah, resting his head on her shoulder during the trip had felt very nice and he could still remember the smell of her perfume (even though by then it was always on his mind).
He huffed and walked away from the group, pretending to be very interested in the shops by the square. While eyeing the glasses them, a jewelry store suddenly drew his attention. There were many pretty necklaces, but one of them shone brighter than the others. The chain was made of silver and the pendant featured a blue stone in the format of a drop. It was pretty...
It would make a nice gift for her. Gray considered the idea for a moment, but after looking at the price he gave up. Too bad, it would look match Juvia’s eyes.
“Guys!” Erza called them. “The inn is a few blocks away. We could go there now, but I suggest we eat something first.”
Everyone agreed. They chose a nearby restaurant and got in. Before they got themselves a table, Juvia announced she'd go to the restroom.
-x-
Juvia rushed to find a bathroom hoping that nobody would take the place next to her beloved. Suddenly, someone bumped into her.
“Shit! Look where you’re going!”
Juvia was about to apologize when she looked at the face of the man standing next to her. He looked familiar, long blue hair and tanned skin, in his thirties. She took a while to picture where she knew him from, but what made her remember was the “x” tattoo on his brow.
Bora.
She stood there, frozen. In all those years, Juvia completely forgot about his existence. They've dated for a few months when she was about sixteen. At the time, she liked him. He made her feel less alone and for her that was enough. Until he broke it off because of her rain.
Bora hadn’t magically vanished and he hadn't been part of her imagination. He was there, older, but real.
“Hello, girl? Are you okay?”
Juvia eyed him, confused. He didn’t remember who she was?
“Yes, sorry.”
“Okay, then.” He looked at her for a second and his face changed from annoyed to… intrigued? “Anyway, doll, I have to get back to my table. See you around.” With a last wink, Bora left.
Juvia ran to the bathroom, entered the first stall she saw, and cried.