#laxuvia

Thank you anon!!! Your words mean a lot to me. Sorry you lost your sleep mask, and sorry I was so late in getting to this. (I absolutely adore this pairing btw.)

Royal AU

Bodyguard AU

For Anonymous

•Juvia always thought Laxus was attractive

•But she didn’t get the best first impression of him

•I.E.—Fantasia Arc

•However, after Laxus became a member of Fairy Tail again,

•Juvia tried her best to get closer to him

•Which wasn’t easy, because he was always surrounded by his teammates

•But,

•When they were both placed on the Fairy Tail B Team,

•They got closer

Okay. This is probably going to be similar another Laxuvia request I did a little while ago (here), but I’ll try to go a somewhat different route… 

Words: probably too many for what is acceptable for a drabble (584)

The rainy season had come to Magnolia once again and for the most part it seemed like it was there to stay. Laxus didn’t care all that much about the bad weather, even if he was just a little sick of hearing Evergreen complain about how it ruined her hair. 

On this particular day, as Laxus searched high and low for a decent birthday present for Freed’s upcoming birthday, it was pouring down; the odd flash of lightning even lit up the sky every now and then. 

The street was otherwise quiet as he walked, only the sound of the rain hitting his umbrella or the splash of a puddle beneath him as he stepped in it could be heard around him. That was what made the gentle hum so easily heard, and as it grew closer, morphing into a soft, delicate voice, Laxus couldn’t help but wonder who it belonged to. It was so… familiar–

“Hey, watch where you’re walkin’.” Laxus had been uncharacteristically lost in his own thoughts that he hadn’t been paying all that much attention to where he’d been walking, and hadn’t noticed the twirling woman coming around the corner of the street until he was colliding with her and almost knocking her into the puddles beneath their feet. It took him a second to recognise who he’d run into as well, but then he was raising an eyebrow curiously as he looked down to the drenched woman in front of him. “Juvia?” 

“Ooh, Laxus! Juvia is sorry!” she quickly apologised, smiling up at the lightning mage brightly. “How is Laxus this wonderful afternoon? Is he enjoying the rain like Juvia is?” 

Laxus only grew more confused. Every other time it had been raining, Juvia had usually just been moping about how depressing the weather was. Admittedly, he still didn’t pay that much attention to most people in the guild, but right then, Juvia was most definitely not moping and Laxus was pretty sure he was missing something. 

“No, he is not enjoying the rain,” Laxus grumbled. He looked down to her drenched clothes once more and noticed how she was beginning to sway slightly. “What are you doing out here anyway?” 

Juvia shrugged. “Just enjoying the wonderful weather,” she answered. And it was true that she didn’t ordinarily enjoy the rainy season, but there was just something about the rain that day that Juvia hadn’t been able to help but enjoy… 

Laxus shook his head at her. “You’re damn insane,” he muttered. He’d been about to just leave it that, but then he had Evergreen’s nagging voice inside his head, reminding him to work on being a nicer person, and he begrudgingly offered his umbrella to the soaked woman. “Take this.” He still had his coat, and he could just lightning-flash anywhere he wanted to anyway. Juvia was a nice enough person (most of the time), and it would probably suck if she got sick - although Laxus did wonder if that was evil possible, being that she was literally made of water and all… 

“No, no. Juvia does not need it.” She shook her head and smiled politely at him again. “Juvia doesn’t mind being wet.” 

Tiptoeing across the tiled entranceway to the school, Juvia quietly entered the building with her small wrapped package held tightly in her hands. Juvia prayed that her sweat slick fingers weren't crumpling the delicate paper she'd spent so lovingly wrapping the night before or the letter carefully affixed to it. But even more than that, she hoped that she was early enough that no one else would be around to witness what she was about to do with it.

Luckily, there weren't too many club activities meeting at this hour in mid February - too cold and dark for the outdoor athletes who comprised the bulk of the early-risers. Juvia glanced around, checking for any observers. Feeling secure when she spotted no one, she unconsciously straightened her spine and walked with renewed purpose, rapidly closing the remaining distance to her destination.

The shoe cupboards.

Juvia peered at each of the numbers, reciting the one she wanted under her breath like a mantra. Soon she found it, a delighted smile spreading across her lips.

Gray Fullbuster's indoor shoes sat there, proof positive that he hadn't arrived at school yet. Perfect. All Juvia had left to do was place her gift, and go to the rooftop after school where Gray would show up, full of love in his eyes and her love letter in his hand, the wind would be blowing and the sun setting behind Juvia, and the birds would sing and-

The sudden creaking of the school's doors opening sent a jolt of lightning through Juvia's veins, and she hurriedly stuffed the gift into the cupboard on top of the shoes before scurrying off. She didn't flee very far, as she still needed to change her own shoes which rested a row over.

Which unfortunately gave her a great view of the tragedy she'd just raised the curtain on.

Peering around the corner, she watched as an older student entered the building and made for the shoes. Juvia's stomach dropped to her toes as recognition swept through her. Blond hair and an unkempt uniform marked the student's identity as clearly as if he were holding a neon sign above his head: Laxus Dreyar, grandson of the school chairman, a third-year, and a delinquent extrordinaire. Music blasted from headphones around his ears, giving Juvia some hope that she'd gotten away unnoticed by the ruffian.

A hope which shortly turned to despair as he approached the very locker she'd placed her gift in for Gray. Cold dread settled in her bones as he pulled out the Valentine's Day chocolate. Bewilderment written clearly across his face, he glanced around in search of who had left him the gift.

Juvia ducked back behind the safety of the shoes and held her breath. After a count of five seconds, she peeked back around the corner.

He was opening it. Now he was reading the letter!

Juvia frantically searched her memory. Did she remember to address the letter to Gray...?

Dammit, she hadn't. But she didn't recall signing it with her name, either, so that was a small relief. So Laxus wouldn't be able to hunt her down and threaten her for wasting his time with her gift.

Strangely, though, he didn't seem upset with the letter. Or the chocolate, which he had already begun to eat with one hand while he changed his shoes. In fact, was that a... small smile...?

Clearly it was a trick of the fluorescent lighting. There was no way that THE Laxus Dreyar was happy about receiving anonymous chocolate and a love confession telling him to go to the roof after school and-

Oh no.

Juvia's mind raced as she ran over the possible outcomes of this. The choices before her were... not great.

On the one hand, standing him up would paint a target on her back of the worst kind. Laxus may not know her identity right now, but it wouldn't be too difficult to find out if the older boy put his mind to the task. If there was one thing Laxus Dreyar had in spades, it was the ability to diligently and viciously hunt down those who had done him wrong.

But then her other option was meeting him up on the rooftop and admitting the mistake, that his sudden arrival had caused her to panic and put the chocolate into the wrong shoe cubby, and that she had wasted his time and played with his feelings.

And then there was the fact that he'd already started eating the chocolate! There was no way she could give it to Gray now!

What should she do?

Despite the growing he had done over the past few months, Laxus would be the first to admit that he still had quite a bit more to do.  It was a realization newly discovered, however.  Prior to arriving on Tenrou Island, he’d thought he’d fully come to terms with his feelings towards his guildmates.  He loved them, and they pissed him off constantly.  Feeling one thing didn’t negate the other.  Seriousness and fun could still go hand in hand, too.  There had been precious little fun in Laxus’s life post-banishment from the guild.  Just a lot of anger, and a lot of self-reflection.

But clearly he still had more to work on, if the knowledge that a woman who had just barely joined Fairy Tail could be a candidate for the S-Class trial already.  And a former enemy, at that.  It spat in the face of the years of hard work and effort and hope that everyone put forth just to be considered for candidacy.

Watching her now,  as she chased Gray around, it made it even harder to accept that if it hadn’t been for Grimoire Heart, she might have filled the S-Class spot he’d vacated.  She’d loudly proclaimed that she didn’t even want it, so why was she even here?

It rankled.

Logically, he knew it wasn’t her fault.  If she’d done outstanding work, then of course Gramps would make her a candidate.  She’d already been considered at an equivalent power level when she was still with Phantom Lord.  And Freed had nothing but praise for her, as well, for how she’d conducted herself during his coup.  That counted for something in his book.  Freed was a difficult man to impress.  And plenty of people in Fairy Tail didn’t want to become S-Class.

He had lots of work to do on himself still, clearly.  And he would.  These pointless feelings of bitterness would only harm him and the people he cared about in the end.  Laxus wasn’t a member of Fairy Tail anymore.  He didn’t have the right to judge her.

For now, he would put on his best neutral expression, and bear the discomfort.  He would enjoy his reunion with his friends while it lasted, and dwell on how to move forward later.

Someday, he knew he would be okay with Juvia Lockser.