“When you’re in a dark place, you sometimes tend to think you’ve been buried. Perhaps you’ve been planted. Bloom.”
I wasn’t able to finish the fic regarding Hisui x Juvia in time for Rare Pair Week hosted by @ftguildevents, but I hope to post it sometime in the near future. For now, here’s a little unedited snippet:
Juvia Lockser couldn’t say what made her feet move beyond the door of their home that day. She hadn’t worked up the courage to leave since he had abandoned her, a small piece of her remaining hopeful for his safe return. But as the weeks turned into months, fear began to creep over her like winter’s chill. What if he had been injured during his travels? What if he needed her help? Gray Fullbuster was not a man who played the helpless victim, but his absence caused Juvia’s heart to ache and worry to gnaw at her insides. The world was a much bigger place for someone traveling alone.
There wasn’t any monumental event or revelation that brought on her decision to leave. She simply woke up that morning and her body began moving on its own. Perhaps the days of brooding had finally taken its toll. She shoved away her grief, the dark gray clouds overhead following her and shedding rain in a torrent. Her tear ducts were empty, the ache in her chest now numb. Time was such a fickle thing - it moved so agonizingly slow and so swiftly all at once.
Juvia had coined the nickname “The Rain Woman”. She breathed the very essence of water, from the salty ocean waves to the fresh spring creeks. Yet, even she came to despise the element. The day she had encountered Gray during the battle of Phantom Lord brought the first ray of sunshine into her life. Perhaps that was why she had clung so fervently to him. She had a fear of the sun being taken away, and she wanted nothing more than to avoid the reappearance of Gloomy Juvia.
She wasn’t sure how long she had been walking. She had no destination in mind, so it was hard to keep track of the days. With eyes that could cry no more, she lifted her gaze to the street where people bustled. The cobblestone glistened, thunder rolling in the distance. No one stopped to check on the lonely woman drenched to her core, too busy hurrying to escape the rain clouds that had suddenly appeared overhead.
That was her name, wasn’t it? Someone was calling her name. After being alone for so long, the voice sounded strange to her ears.
“Juvia, is that you?” the woman called again, ringing a bell of familiarity.
Footsteps headed in her direction, a man’s voice grumbling discontent as they drew closer. A hand rested on her shoulder, squeezing gently, and causing Juvia to look over. Hisui E. Fiore, the princess of Fiore, stood beside her with a frown, brows drawn together. The knight that always accompanied her held an umbrella over both of them.
Hisui tilted her head. “Are you all right? What are you doing out in the rain?”
Juvia could only stare at the princess, not sure how to answer her question. She and Hisui only knew each other by association. They had met briefly during the celebration in Crocus after the dragon attack, but otherwise could very well be strangers. How could she even begin to explain her situation?
“Arcadios,” Hisui called, turning to the knight beside her.
They exchanged a conversation, in which Juvia turned a deaf ear to. She didn’t much care for royal matters. Whatever they were discussing held no weight for her. The only thing she concerned herself with was finding Gray and making sure he was all right.
Hisui’s hand moved from Juvia’s shoulder to her hand. “Come on,” she persuaded, the gentle tug on her hand urging Juvia to follow after her.
Juvia studied Hisui, wondering what exactly the princess meant. “What-What do you mean?” she finally managed to say, her voice hoarse from not being used.
“We’re bringing you back to the castle.”
The thought alone stopped Juvia in her tracks. “I-I can’t.”
Green eyes looked at her. “Why not?”
“I-” Juvia clamped her mouth shut. Part of her wanted to tell her that Gray was missing and Juvia needed to find him. But the other part of her didn’t want to explain to this stranger the predicament she had found herself in.
Hisui squeezed Juvia’s hand. “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s okay. But you’ll catch your death if you don’t get into some dry clothes. At least come back to the palace to warm up and stay the night.”
How could Juvia argue with that? She swallowed thickly then nodded. Hisui smiled and began pulling her toward the carriage that awaited them. Once they were both safely tucked inside, Arcadios signaled for the driver to bring them back to the palace. The clapping of the horses’ hooves was drowned out by the rain that followed.
