The phone rang once. Twice. Three times. Levy's ears perked up. She leaned over the couch, grabbed the buzzing device, and pressed the receiver to the side of her mouth, "Redfox residence, this is Levy speaking."
"Oi, Shrimp," snickered a familiar voice, "what are ya doing at my place?"
Levy was temporarily stunned. To his voice, was like a huge weight being lifted off her chest, although she wasn't one to get all cheesy. So she just let out a sigh of relief.
Moments later, reality practically slapped her across the face as a wave of embarrassment consumed her body.
Great. Caught, she thought.
"Uh, I, err, was looking after Lily?"
Another snicker, "gihihi, you seem unsure."
Levy couldn't help but smile through the phone, as her hazel eyes began to well up with tears, "I miss you."
There was a long silence before Gajeel replied, rather softly, "Yeah….I miss ya too."
The solid-script mage sniffed before trying to start up a casual conversation, "So, how is it? Up there, I mean."
"Cold," came his response, "I actually think stripper's comin down with a fever, given that weird-ass habit of his."
Levy laughed half-heartedly, "That sounds like him. Do you want to speak to Lily?"
"Nah," he shrugged off, "he'll start cryin' like a little girl. I'll talk to him later."
"Kay. So..," Levy trailed off for a while, "When do you think you'll come back?"
A heavy sigh came from the other end, "I don't know, Shrimp. Could be weeks. But, just….wait for me to come home."
"Gajeel," Levy murmured sadly. She twisted a few strands of her tousled, blue hair, hoping it would relieve her pained heart.
Silence.
"Gajeel!" Levy called again, panic edging its way into her cracked voice.
The phone line went dead, and little did she know, that that would be the last time she'd hear his voice.