It was another lively day at Fairytail. The sun was shining in Magnolia, and an iron dragon slayer was feeling restless. The dragon slayer in question was sitting across from a slight blue haired mage with his trusty exceed by his side. Levy had her nose tucked in a book, while the other two members of her team had been called away by Natsu, who had challenged them to a tournament of his design.

"Hey Levy, don't you ever get tired of reading them things? I'm surprised that this city hasn't run out of books that you haven't got your hands on yet." Gajeel leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed and tilted his head back to look down at Levy as he spoke.

Levy looked up from her book and blushed self-consciously. "Well, actually, I've had to start ordering books from out of town and having them shipped to me."

Gajeel looked slightly taken aback but then quickly recovered. Rubbing the back of his neck he said "Honestly, I'm not so surprised."

Across the room Lucy sat at the bar across from Mira. "Hey Mira," Lucy said "haven't Levy and Gajeel been hanging out a lot lately?

"It seems like every time Levy is away from Jet and Droy she winds up sitting with him."

Mira smiled knowingly, ever ready to play the matchmaker. "It looks like they are pretty cozy over there."

Lucy and Mira chuckled together. (Cue Happy tongue rolling)

Gajeel's sensitive ears twitched and he let out an annoyed sigh. As he got up to leave, Levy looked up suddenly. "Ah, Gajeel-kun, what is it?" She inquired, puzzled by his sudden intended departure.

"Don't worry about it, short stuff. I just got better stuff to do." Came his short reply.

"Mhm. Ok." Levy's attention was quickly captured by the pages in front of her.

Gajeel walked out of the guild, followed by Lily. Jet and Droy hurried passed him on their way over to Levy's table. They watched his exit warily.

"Hi Levy." Said Jet.

"Hi guys. How was the "tournament"?"

"Eh, well Natsu got a little too fired up and he ended up wrecking the obstacle course that he and Happy made. Not that it really took that much to do it in anyway. Hey Levy, we have something that we wanted to ask you."

Levy looked at Jet with interest. "What is it?" She asked.

"Well, we've been a team for quite some time now, and we are just concerned that something might come between us one day." Droy said.

Levy looked back and forth between her partners. "Huh? Why would you guys think that? That could never happen. You two are my best friends." Levy smiled reassuringly at her partners.

"We know Levy. We were just worried because we overheard Lucy talking to Natsu the other day, and she hinted that you might have a thing for Gajeel." Droy said doubtfully.

At these words, Levy's face turned a shade of bright red and she clasped her hands tightly in her lap.

Jet studed Levy's face as he spoke. "I know that it's not really any of our business, but we were worried that if Gajeel ever became your boyfriend, that it might change what we have now."

Levy blinked, stunned. "What are you guys talking about? Me and Gajeel? He's just a friend." Levy spoke as if trying to convince herself.

"Oh. Ok Levy. Sorry to bother you about that. I just really like the way things are now with us Shadow Gear. " Said Jet looking relieved.

"Yeah, good to know. " Said Droy looking equally happy.

Unannounced to the script mage and her friends, an iron dragon slayer had witnessed the whole conversation. Gajeel had forgotten a job form he was going to take, and had slipped back into the guild unnoticed to retrieve it. Hearing that he was the topic of discussion, he had quietly eavesdropped from behind a pillar near the front.

Needless to say, this conversation had given him a lot to think about on his way home.

'Got a thing for me, huh?' Gajeel thought as he strode along the road. His hands were in his pockets and he stared thoughtfully at the ground.

'Never would have 'spected the shrimp to go for anyone who wasn't the booksey weak lookin' type.'

Gajeel remembered how Levy's face looked as she concentrated while reading a book and how small and slight she seemed when she faced down Laxus and Phantom's mages.

'That girl is gonna need someone who can protect her.' Gajeel looked down at his scarred and pierced arms. 'Not someone who's already hurt her. What the hell is she thinking. She's gone and fooled us that she's smart, but she'd have to be a moron to pick someone like me.'

Panthalily, quiet and observant as ever, studied Gajeel's behavior as they walked home.