A/N: This story takes place after the S-Class Exams and before the Grand Magic Games. I'm also using this story to kill two birds with one stone: to satisfy myself and others with some good ol' Gajeel X Levy fanfiction and to introduce my Fairy Tail self.

It was just another day at the Fairy Tail guild, and Gajeel was sitting at his usual spot at the bar, although more beat up than usual. A long roll of bandages covered his left bicep and a line of butterfly stitches held together a long gash on his forehead. Ah, the injuries he received on his high-risk missions, but hey, he enjoyed the combative nature of them.

He gnawed idly on a piece of scrap metal as he looked around the room, taking stock of members present and absent, and his eyes fell upon the small Solid Script mage known as Levy McGarden. She was standing at the request board, scanning it for her next job. Gajeel smiled and softly "gihi'd" as a wave of nostalgia hit him. He remembered how strong and capable she had proven herself to him during the S-Class Exams, but to him, she will always be the Shrimp.

As Levy scanned the board, one caught her fancy: a small village in need of protection from a racketeering local guild. However, it was what the author of the request had written that also made it perfect for someone she had wanted to partner with for a while. She glanced at Gajeel, and their eyes met. Levy looked down quickly and blushed.

Geez, what's got her flustered? Gajeel thought, unaware that he was about to find out. Levy walked over and sat on a barstool next to him.

"Hey, Gajeel," she said quietly, her hands folded in her lap.

"What do ya want, Shrimp?" he replied with a piece of iron between his lips. Normally, Levy would get all defensive and upset if someone called her that, but with Gajeel, she didn't mind. She found it quite endearing, actually.

"Well, um, I was wondering if, uh, you'd be willing to go on a job with me," she spoke shyly.

"Why me? Why not take Jet and Droy with ya?" Gajeel asked. Her plan to get Gajeel alone had hit a small stumbling block.

"Why not you?" Levy countered with a sudden boost in confidence. She was going to get him to go on a job with her whether he liked it or not. His eyes widened a bit, shocked to hear her being assertive. What's gotten into her? he thought, not sure whether he liked this new Levy or not.

"Well...With the jobs you go on, it wouldn't be much fun fer me," he replied, but he knew what he said was a lie. Gajeel had always wanted to hang out with her, but every time he had an opportunity, Jet and Droy dashed it to pieces. He didn't want to get his hopes up, so he just abandoned all his attempts. He had resigned himself to the thought that maybe they weren't meant to be friends. But this was Levy reaching out to him, and he was totally out of his element. Hey, this your chance to hang out with her alone, away from her drooling fanboys! Carpe fuckin' diem, man! his subconscious coaxed.

"Well, I chose a job that is different than the ones I usually go on, and this one also seemed like something you'd enjoy partaking in, too," she said, sliding the flier to him across the bar counter. After mentally arguing with himself, he decided to take the gamble. He grabbed it, and read it aloud:

Help Greatly Needed

Our village has been prey for a horrible local guild that's been extorting money from us hardworking people for several years. I didn't want to post this until I had a big enough reward to give to whoever helps us.

I am a blacksmith and a mage who can only do so much with what they have. We don't have much to give, but if you can help us get rid of them, you'll have our eternal gratitude as well.

Reward: 150,000 jewel and a piece of customized ironwork

Signed, Sam Ferros

"Gihihi, I can see why ya chose this job," Gajeel chuckled, baring his fangs in a smile and ruffling Levy's hair. "Sure, I'll go with ya. Just give me a day ta rest up, since I just got back from my last job an' all." All he heard out of her was the sound a rubber duck makes when you squeeze it, what an inhuman sound. She latched onto his right side and hugged him, smiling brightly.

"Oi, pipsqueak!" he exclaimed, a bit flustered at her sudden actions. He heard snickers from behind him.

"Oi, stripper boy! Flame brain! What're you two giggling at?!" he shouted, glaring at them. Levy let go of him and wrote something out before getting up from her seat. He heard a small thunk on the counter in front of him, and turned around to see a smaller version of Solid Script: Iron.

"It's a thank you for going on a job with me," Levy said, blushing. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, Gajeel!" And with that, she walked out the guild hall doors, with him watching her. When she was out of sight and the two giggling mages went back to picking a fight with each other, he looked down at the block iron letters and smiled. Tracing the small heart in the "O" with his right index finger, his own heart beat a little harder. His hope to finally be alone with her was rekindled.