Title: Inexplicable

Summary: Juvia and Cana weren't entirely sure what they had, they just knew it transcended any words they could use to describe it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan): The wordless yet meaningful look shared by two people who desire to initiate something but, both are reluctant to start.

Juvia grinned as yet another guildmate congratulated her on getting nominated for the S-Class trials. She still wasn't sure she was a proper candidate for it but Master refused to listen to her so Juvia just let herself get swept up in the excitement. She herself had already congratulated all the other candidates but one and Juvia pursued her lips as she looked for Cana. Cana wasn't at any of her usual haunts and Juvia was getting a little worried. She had seen what happened to women if they drank too much and they weren't careful. Cana was usually much more careful than that but Juvia still hasn't seen her yet and her imagination was on the brink of spiraling out of control, making her stomach twist into knots.

Gajeel walked by and Juvia impulsively jumped on his back. She ignored his mutterings of "Damn crazy woman" and "Look, I'm happy for you but can I get my personal space back?" in favor of using her new height vantage to look over the crowd. She spotted Cana standing in a dark corner gripping a beer bottle and Juvia sighed in relief at seeing her safe. Juvia almost called out to Cana but then Cana glared at her and the words died in her throat.

Juvia frowned as the small details of Cana's appearance began to register. Cana's shoulders were slumped and her hair rumpled, her normally cheerful face one of flat indifference. She huddled in the shadows instead of standing in the spotlight like normal and Juvia shivered when their eyes met.

Juvia would jump off Gajeel's back and run to her friend, hugging her. Cana would murmur in Juvia's ear and though she wouldn't be able to understand the words, she'd get that Cana just wanted to huddle and draw comfort from the shadows. But Juvia would stay with her throughout the night and offer to do the same the next night, and the night after that, however long Cana would need the comfort because she was Juvia's friend. Once Cana was feeling better, she would offer to do the same for Juvia if Juvia ever needed it and Juvia would undoubtedly go to her for comfort right before the exams started because she didn't like competing with her friends.

Juvia tensed, ready to jump but, she couldn't bring herself to do it, her limbs feeling as though they were made of lead. Cana was her friend but did that give her any right to bother Cana when she so obviously wanted to be alone? Juvia bit her lip and stared in Cana's direction helplessly, hoping Cana would give her some indication that her worrying was alright. She didn't want to harm their friendship just because she was a worrywort.

Gajeel broke her out of her mulling when he spun in an attempt to get her off him, breaking Juvia's eye contact with Cana. Gajeel spun again and Juvia managed to catch a glimpse of Cana heading to the guild doors.

Gajeel got a hold of her arm and tugged her over his head. She yelped as he wrapped his arms around her to keep her prisoner and tickled her in revenge for using him as a perch, laughing as she shrieked and collapsed from laughter. Unfortunately, the distraction wasn't enough to stop her worry for Cana and Juvia reluctantly tried to focus on escaping from Gajeel's attacks. Juvia managed to break free with a gasp just in time to see Cana slipping out of the guild doors, her heart thudding as the door closed.

She didn't try to follow, her hesitation holding her limbs hostage, instead letting Gajeel capture her again and drag her to the bar for congratulatory drinks.

It was so much easier letting other people decide what she should do, despite the uneasy guilt churning in her stomach.

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