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They had to find a way to fit in the rundown inn, the only one big enough to accommodate all of them in the tiny town of Drameel. With the whole guild unexpectedly wounding up in the continent of Guiltina, they had to share beds if they wanted everyone to get a good night's sleep.
Natsu had already settled on Lucy's bed, despite the latter's complaints about not granting him permission to sleep there. In fact, she was already tucking herself beneath the covers beside him. Across them were Mira and Lisanna sharing another double bed, while Elfman -- with his sheer size -- had to have a bed of his own, no questions asked. Gajeel and Levy would have preferred a room of their own, but they contented themselves with the one at the corner. And before Gray could even ask, Erza had already hopped onto Wendy's bed, but not before shoving him a little towards the double bed right beside theirs, where a certain water mage was smoothing the sheets.
And that's how Gray ended up clutching a pillow to his bare chest, waiting for Juvia to finish plopping the mattress and dusting off the blanket.
"The bed's ready, Gray-sama!" she happily exclaimed as she tucked herself into the blanket, squeezing to the double bed's right side to give Gray some space.
"Are you sure you're okay with this, Juvia?" Gray asked one more time, though his tired body was longing to lie down on the soft mattress and drift off to dreamland. The thought of sleeping beside the beautiful blunette didn't seem half-bad, either.
"Of course, Gray-sama. Juvia is more than happy to sleep with you!" she happily exclaimed, hearts forming in her eyes.
Gray's ears turned crimson. "We're not sleeping together! We're just sharing a bed, that's all," he said, turning his head away from her. He placed his pillow beside Juvia's and laid down on his side of the bed on top of the blanket; he doesn't really sleep with blankets on.
"Whatever you say, Gray-sama," Juvia teased, lightly poking his bicep and giggling.
He heard a click and the room went dark, with nothing but the light from the moon streaming in from the windows beside Lucy's bed. There was a small, "Goodnight!" from Mirajane, and everything went silent except for Natsu and Elfman's snores.
Gray's body felt so tired, but somehow his mind couldn't get to sleep -- not when he was so close to Juvia he could practically hear her breathe. Even though they weren't touching, Gray could feel the nerves on his left arm tingle, painfully conscious of the warm, soft body just a few inches away.
And then he heard a whisper. "Gray-sama?"
Gray turned his head towards Juvia and found himself looking at her navy blue orbs, the faint moonlight gently illuminating her face. Their faces were so close together, he could feel Juvia's breath against his cheeks.
"Juvia wants to thank you for protecting her from Metro," she whispered, a small smile gracing her lips.
He was glad his face was turned away from the window so Juvia could only make out his silhouette. Otherwise, she would have seen the blush creeping on his face and the small smile that tugged his lips just a tiny bit.
"It's no big deal," Gray whispered back. When it came to Juvia, he knew that he would move heaven and earth to keep her safe.
Juvia turned her body to face him completely, making the hairs on his arm prickle once again. But instead of looking at him, she bowed her head, as if avoiding his gaze. He could barely make out what she said next in a low voice.
"Juvia knows Gray-sama probably doesn't want to talk about this, but Juvia really wants to hear it again. Even for just one time."
He frowned. "Hear what?"
She looked up at him, her big beautiful eyes locking with his. "What you said a while ago when you were trying to save Juvia." Even in the darkness, he could see the faint red stain on her pale cheeks. "That Juvia is y-your, your..." she trailed off, but there was an expectant look in her eyes.
Damn it, Gray cursed himself. He really didn't know what came over him during the fight that he had to utter those cheesy words.
Not that they weren't true, of course. Since their fight with Invel, Gray had known that there was nothing in this world that he wouldn't do to protect Juvia. Way before that, his body had been acting of its own accord to keep her safe, even if he didn't fully understand it.
It was just that he wouldn't be caught dead saying those words right in front of Juvia, not when he was not yet ready to confess to her. After all, he joined this quest to become stronger for her, and right now, he was not yet that man. He still didn't deserve her.
"Gray-sama? Please?"
But every moment trying to suppress his feelings had been a struggle, Gray had to admit. That was what he realized when he finally admitted to himself that he was in love with her, and boy, was it a huge mistake.
Whenever he was with Juvia, his feelings seemed to want to seep out from every pore of his body and reach out to her. He couldn't control how his eyes would automatically search for her when he entered the guild, or how his body would ever so slightly turn to her when they talk, or how his arm physically ached just by having her near -- and only when Juvia would wrap her arms around his would the ache subside.
Things were easier when she was all the way back in Magnolia, even though he spent most of his free time thinking of her and the many ways she would tackle him to the ground with her big bear hugs while shouting "Gray-samaaa!" in her usual overzealous way. At least, with so much distance between them, there was no danger of him suddenly blurting out his feelings for her.
But now that Juvia's here -- and so painfully close, goddammit -- it's getting harder and harder for Gray not to just sweep her in his arms and whisper in her ear how she's his power to live. Ugh, I can't believe I said it out loud, he thought as he felt his cheeks warm.
"Goodnight, Gray-Sama. Juvia will sleep now."
He couldn't help but notice the dismay in her voice as she started to shift her body away from him. But before she could do so, he grabbed her shoulders and found himself looking straight at her wide, astonished eyes. She gasped, her lips parting slightly at his sudden movement.
Oh, what the hell, he thought. He took a big gulp.
"You're... You're..."
Damn it, why is this so incredibly hard?
"... You still need that CPR?"
Juvia's brows furrowed. "CPR?"
He leaned towards her and captured her lips in a soft kiss. Juvia tensed for a moment before she let herself relax into his embrace.
He had been trying so hard to suppress his feelings for her, and for what? He had already blurted it out a while ago, and even pressed her body against him and told her how relieved he was that she was safe.
Surely she knew, and there should be no doubt now, as his lips slowly caressed hers, one of his hands sliding from her shoulders to the crook of her neck and up her jaw, tilting her head slightly upwards so he can press his mouth just a little bit harder on her soft, plump lips.
After some time, Gray slowly pulled away, watching Juvia as she gently fluttered her eyelids open as if coming out from a daze.
He couldn't help but smile. So beautiful.
"Is that CPR enough to shut you up now?" he whispered.
He could feel Juvia's body tense as she placed her hands on her mouth and suppressed a squeal from escaping. She buried her head into his bare chest, her breathing getting heavier and heavier and syncing with the crazy thumping of his heart. He felt Juvia's body getting warmer, making Gray smirk at the effect he had on her, but also hoping that she wouldn't start boiling like she did earlier.
It took a minute before Juvia was able to calm herself. She lifted her head once again to look at him, and under the light of the moon, he could see her doe eyes, pink cheeks, and slightly mischievous smile gazing back at him.
"Juvia thinks she'll never stop asking Gray-sama to repeat those words if he'd always give her CPR."
Gray chuckled. He fell right into her trap! But he didn't mind it in the slightest, as he'd fallen for her a long time ago -- long before he realized it.
"Well, I guess I have no choice, then."
Juvia smiled, brighter than the moonlight striking her beautiful face, and he felt his heart swell. "Gray-sama?"
"Yes?"
"Say it again to Juvia, please."
Without a word, Gray leaned down and kissed Juvia again, this time a bit deeper. He could feel her arms sliding over his shoulders as her hands made their way to his hair, her fingers brushing against his scalp. His hands found the small of her back and he pressed her closer to him, both of them careful not to make a sound.
He didn't know how long they stayed like that, bodies pressed against each other, mouths tied in a slow and passionate lip lock. When they finally went up for air, Gray pressed his forehead against hers and gave her another quick peck.
Gray slipped his other arm under Juvia so she could rest her head against his chest. One of her arms wrapped around his torso, while the other curled in front of her, her open palm resting on his chest.
Gray always liked lying on his cold bed, sprawled without blankets with nothing but his boxers on. But tonight, he didn't mind the warm, soft body clinging to him, the smell of petrichor filling his senses and lulling him to sleep.
He could definitely get used to this.