Gajeel scowled and burrowed his nose further into the fluffy muffler wrapped around his neck. Every last piercing and all his iron bones felt stiff and frozen in the cold winter weather. Minutes later he came across the Fairy Tail guild hall and quickly, he strode across the door frame into the fire-heated hall. Pulling his scarf off and taking his normal seat at the bar, Gajeel glanced around the hall, easily noticing it was unusually quiet.

The fire-breathing brat was chasing down another Dragon-sighting rumour – he had offered for Gajeel to come along, in case any of the rumours were about Metalicana. Gajeel had curtly declined; he didn't want to owe his rival any favours.

But where was Fullbuster? He hadn't taken a job, and normally he'd be skulking around like a lost puppy waiting for his favorite opponent to come back. And Titania as well, she hadn't had much interest in any of the posted missions.

The blond Heartfilia had taken a simple job two towns over to pay for her rent. He knew that much at least.

Mirajane brought over a steaming mug. "Erza and Gray are on jobs for me," she said with a smile. "It's quiet without the three of them, isn't it?"

"It's nice," Gajeel retorted, his tongue piercing warm enough to allow him to speak painlessly, "and like I care where they are."

She rested her forearms on the bar. "You know, Natsu considers you to be his nakama too."

Gajeel eyed her incredulously. "Woman, are you mad!?" he barked. "We've hated each other since day one."

"He trusts you though," Levy added, walking up to the bar. Gajeel warily glared at her.

"No he doesn't."

Levy place her fingers on her chin. A smile played on her mouth. "Do you remember when you two had to team up and fight Laxus? How against a team-up Natsu was?"

Gajeel grunted an affirmation and took a quick swig of his drink, "proving my point right now."

"When you both finally teamed up and started fighting together, at one part you shouted for Natsu to use a specific spell without any explanation."

Gajeel took a long drought from his mug.

"He didn't hesitate."

Gajeel choked. Mirajane tool his mug of Irish coffee before he died. Levy placed a hand on his bicep. "And later – when you took that hit for him? The only reason he could summon up the energy needed to fire up was because he saw how hurt you were."

Gajeel stared at her. "I need alcohol."