"i loved you so

much that i forgot

what hating myself

felt like."

—

Back at the guild, the raven-haired sat quietly at the same spot— his fingertips digging into his dark locks. Agh, i'm such an idiot. He scolded himself, heaving a deep sigh of frustration. "What's wrong Gray? You seem agitated." The ice mage luged his head up, greeted by the sight of the white haired barmaid— Mirajane. She offered him her usual bright smile, her hands occupied with two empty mugs.

Gray gulped, lightly shaking his head. "Nothing. I'm fine." He mumbled, though the female barmaids eyebrow rose up in curiosity. "Well, you came in quite early here with Juvia. What was that all about?" Mirajane teased, urging on her usual routine as a barmaid— though sneaking a glance at the ice mage whom slightly winced at the mentioned name.

Well well. The white haired nudged a sly grin, noticing his all of a sudden unusual, puzzled expression. "Mentioning Juvia, isn't she so adorable?" Mirajane peeped, a giggle slipping past her lips afterwards. Gray had stayed silent, his sweaty hands settled against his lap— just the sound of her name made his heart race. No. He couldn't soften up now, not when he had asked her to leave him alone. Plus, it wasn't like of him to be soft. He still needed to think.

"Don't be so sour Gray. Isn't it nice to have someone special to you?" The barmaid stirred up, making her way towards the shelves of alcohol behind the counter— wedging a bottle in the storage. "I- I— don't know what you're talking about." The noirenette protested, glancing away off to a wall. "Well, as i've observed— I don't see you looking at other girls the way you look at Juvia." She teased, lightly shrugging her shoulders— her statement completely shutting him up.

Was I really that obvious? "What's stopping you Gray? She obviously cares about you." Mirajane added, her blue orbs drifting away— her lips forming to a smile as she waved at her siblings from a far. "It's not like she'll reject you." Well, of course she wouldn't. Juvia was bold about how she felt for him— almost everyone knew about her undying love for the ice mage.

"It's not as easy as you think." He blurted from under his breath, sighing. It bothered him— that he began feeling so comfortable around the water mage. The comfort she brought him was on a different level— and he liked the way she made him feel. It was dangerous. "It's hard because you're making it hard for yourself. There's nothing wrong with being a little selfish from time to time." Mirajane added, raising an eyebrow with a playful grin.

The noirenette glanced up toward the older mage, an awkward feeling settling in his gut. "Don't let your own feelings scare you Gray." Mirajane advised, her expression flattening— a tingle running against Gray's skin. "It may not seem like it, but she won't wait for you forever. You could lose her in different ways, so give her a chance." The barmaid concluded, her face beaming as she shortly bid him an excuse— the white haired being called off by her sibling.

Gray stayed still and quiet, Mirajane's words clearly paralyzing him. She won't wait forever. The barmaid was right— Gray hadn't really thought about in that way. Her affections had became tolerable and expected— to the point where he would sometimes slightly miss her when she was off at a mission. He especially hadn't thought about what he would do if she finally gave up and showered someone else with the affection she gave to him.

The ice mage rolled his eyes, situating his palm on his forehead with a gulp. But then again, Juvia wouldn't just— easily replace him. Especially with Lyon. Would she? Gray inaudibly groaned, running his palms on his face in irritation of his own thoughts. Hell. I've really gone mad now. The white haired observed him have his crisis of thoughts, lightly shrugging her shoulders with an awkward smile.

Gray clasped his hands together, gesturing his knuckles against his lips. He ogled at the shelves of alcohol before him, not baring to move a limb. No, it wouldn't be her. Juvia was easily one of the sweetest people he's met. The ice mage sighed, ramming his slender fingers into his hair once again with a swallow. Beads of sweat formed on his skin, his thoughts completely disheveled— he couldn't think straight anymore. God, only Juvia could make his thoughts ramble like this.

There and then, behind him the guild doors blasted open— his contemplations disturbed with an unpleasant screaming, or more so obnoxious growling. "RAAAA-" At a distance, stood a familiar salmon haired— his mouth widely gaped open, hands raised into the air as fists. He was soaked in rain water, his usually spikey hair saturated— he was also breathing heavily. Gray narrowed his eyes at the fire mage in annoyance, ignoring his sudden bewildering appearance.

Mirajane chuckled, gesturing the salmon haired a 'good morning' wave— completely unbothered with the abhorrent behaviour. As well as few of the guild members already settled inside found this behaviour normal. Well, not normal, they were just used to it. As they should've.

"Aye! It seems like she's not here Natsu!"

"What? Are you serious? I was a hundred percent sure she'd be here. Especially since it looks like Mr. Snowman is here."

The raven haired halted, briefly eavesdropping on the exceed and the fire mage. He snaked his palms on the surface of the slender table, furrowing his eyebrows— his jaw suddenly clenched. Wh- Were they talking abou- "Oi! Gray!" Gray shot the salmon haired a scowl, rotating his head towards him. Natsu marched onward, his exceed following right behind him— droplets of water leading behind as he stayed soaked.

"Oh my, Natsu. Has the rain really gotten heavy? You're drenched!" Mirajane questioned with a slight giggle, leaning on the counter— tilting her head. Rain? Since when- The ice mage wavered his gaze to the nearest window— alas, it truly was raining. He was so fathomed in his thoughts that he hadn't heard the immense taps of the raindrops against the roof.

Gray frowned, his shoulders lowering— a slight stinging sensation latching on him. Was it Juvia? The noirenette was aware that the water mage could boast the weather, specifically the rain— but that was when her emotions became worryingly unstable. Predominantly when she was unhappy. The water mage had told him herself, and it proved right when they had first met.

"Yeah, well. It was really sunny and hot. At first it showered, but then moments later it just poured! Right Happy?"

"Aye! So now, we're completely drenched!"

"My, it'll be good for the greenery here in Magnolia. It's been quite hot and dry recently." The white haired stated, watching as Natsu picked at his right ear with his pinkie— mouthing her 'yeah yeah.' "Anyways, where's Juvia? Can't seem to find her." The salmon haired asked, quite hastily actually— and it somewhat bothered Gray whom was a few inches away. Though, he chose to stay silent. He really didn't wanna yap his lungs out right now.

The ice mage eyed Natsu from the corner of his eyes; out of all the people he befriended— what did he want from her? And why was he suddenly so interested in her? Gray shrugged, drifting his eyes away from the fire mage— rolling his eyes in disinterest with a sudden pause. Since when did I overthink this much? Mirajane snuck a peek at her fellow coadjutor, noticing his odd behaviour— though it only amused her.

"Well, Juvia did leave earlier." The barmaid declared, cocking her head slightly forwards— urging to the doors. "Oh yeah? Where to? I gotta ask her something." Natsu casually spoke, though the white haired shrugged in response. The noirenette listened in, a bent finger against the bottom bridge of his nose. Seriously, what did he w- "Well, if you're really eager why don't you ask Gray? Him and Juvia are quite close." Mirajane indicated in an unusual tone, a deceitful grin forming onto her lips.

The raven haired glanced to his left, meeting the sight of his frenemy— shortly parting his lips to speak. "Like hell i'd know where she went off to." He replied, settling his crossed arms on the counter before him— receiving a grunt from the salmon haired. "That's weird. You two do everything together." Natsu straightforwardly retaliated with a visible smirk, sending the ice mage's heart to squeeze in embarrassment.

However, Gray had kept his composure on the outside— making sure he was seen as firm and unbothered. The noirenette slimed his eyes at Natsu, screwing his expression into grimace in annoyance. The flame retard would surely tease him to death if he had suddenly broken out. "Mind your own business ash brain." The fire mage's eyes twitched in anger, speedily approaching Gray— his pointer finger accusingly dug on Gray's forehead.

"Listen up, ice stripper. I would gladly fight you right now, but i'm a busy man." He stated, the ice mage mockingly staring at him. Natsu removed his finger off a completely un-phased Gray, the fire mage brushing his shoulders. "Anyways, I gotta go and find Juvia now. I really gotta ask her something important." The salmon haired mentioned once again. "Aye! Let's go get some fish!" Happy added on. A familiar churning rammed in the noirenette's stomach. Just what the hell was the sudden obsession with Juvia?

—