Closing the Distance (My attempt at a Gruvia Fanfic)
Gray is very bothered. He did not expect to think this way but he is very much irritated. Why? Why was she walking behind him? She is making sure to walk a remarkable distance behind him and this distance had made him uncomfortable. Why is she walking far behind him when she could stand and walk beside him?
When did it start? Gray started to wonder how his feelings have changed. He had always thought of her as a nuisance, an annoying existence, someone he just had to save because he values life. He was not expecting her to thank him in return for saving her life but she had returned it in an incredible amount. Too incredible that he thought he was going to drown. Her feelings were too heavy for him to handle. Besides, he was not interested in that kind of stuff and yet as time passed, he was not able to ignore her anymore. In fact, he became too aware of her that he felt that he always must see her. He would feel very worried when he does not see her, would feel very irritated when someone tries to get close to her (ahem ahem Lyon) and would feel the need to protect her. Right now, it does not matter when it started. All he knew was that he had to do something with the situation at hand. Gray stopped in his tracks making the blue haired girl behind him to also take a stop. He breathed out in a form of a sigh to hide his resolve. Parting his lips, he uttered, “Juvia.”
“Yes, Gray-sama?”, the girl answered energetically warming her whole body in response to his beloved saying her name. “Is something the matter?”, she added.
“Well, umm I was wondering, why are you behind me?”, Gray asked hoping that it did not sound rude as his back was against Juvia.
“Why you ask, well that’s,” Juvia struggles to give his Gray-sama’s odd query an answer. She did not know what to say and this resulted in a silence enveloping the air around them for a few moments. Within those moments Gray was smacking himself inside his head for asking such a stupid question. He knew he had to put a stop to the awkward mood and so he decided to break the silence but it seemed like Juvia was also thinking the same thing. They spoke in unison with both not hearing what the other had to say. Gray would have said “Nevermind” and Juvia would have answered to the earlier question. Being the gentleman that he is, Gray let Juvia speak up.
“Well, the reason I must say is that because I don’t want to bother you Gray-sama.” Gray’s eyes widened at this and his body instinctively turned to face Juvia. Juvia with her head down continued, “I don’t want to bother you but I also don’t want to be apart from you. I always want to see you and know what it is you are doing and if ever you are in trouble, I would want to help you. But…,” Juvia lifted her head up and looked upon Gray’s eyes. “I am aware that Gray-sama is not very fond of me being always around but I have always loved the way how you let me walk close to you!” Juvia finished with her signature smile. This caused a hard thump in Gray’s chest and now that his question was answered, he had to man up and tell her.
“It’s not a bother.” Gray’s words escaped from his mouth almost like a whisper.
“Eh?”
“You’re not bothering me.”
“Gray-sama?”
“What I’m trying to say is, I don’t mind you walking close to me! In fact, it wouldn’t hurt if you walk beside me you know.”
“Eh Gray-sama, you don’t mean,” Juvia, obviously startled at Gray’s words turned red oblivious to the fact that the man in front of him was also showing a slight pinkish blush. Gray faced in the original direction of his walk in an attempt to hide from the girl the color that was showing in his face. Fortunately for him, Juvia was still busy trying to decipher his words. He peeked over his shoulder and gave his lips a tiny smirk before saying in a serious tone, “Hurry up.”
Now that he has closed the distance between them, he could finally see Juvia’s face up close, something that he had to imagine every time she was facing his back. There was also this warm feeling around possibly from the girl who emitted sunshine whenever she was around. It’s only a matter of time before he must give her a proper answer but this is the best he could have at the time. Although, having her this close made Gray wanting even more. He thought he had to partake even a little bit of that warmth into his ice magic driven body. Not that he would actually say it out loud but the thought made even his stone face heat up a little.
“Next time, I’ll try to hold her hand.”