~* Hello! I'm back again. I was feeling the need to do a piece experimenting with more playful banter between characters. I just love writing about a blossoming relationship between Gajeel and Levy and I'm not too sure how many more times I can re-do it without it becoming redundant. Anyhow, I enjoyed experimenting and combining my ideas with this one and I hope you enjoy. *~
As always, I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters.
Gajeel sat in front of the raging campfire, the warmth soaking in to his fatigued muscles. His head had fallen back and his eyes closed as he breathed evenly, finding peace in an otherwise chaotic day.
His eyes shot open and he lifted his head to peer across the fire as he heard a faint hiss escape Levy's lips. One brow arched curiously as he regarded her; seeing how she was struggling to wrap an injury she had sustained to her upper arm.
He had begun to push himself up to go help her but as he started doing so, Pantherlily was already at her side, smiling up at her as he took the ends of the bandage from her hands.
"Let me help you, Levy." He more demanded than asked, but Levy conceded, smiling gratefully down at the black exceed.
"You did wonderful, today," the exceed complimented Levy, making small talk to take her mind off of the pain as he tightened the cloth bandage slightly.
Her wince was not lost on Gajeel. "Take it easy, Lily," he snapped from across the fire, having sat up to supervise. Both Levy and Lily paused and looked to Gajeel, surprised. He then leaned back, clearing his throat and looked askance to the ground. "You might cut off her circulation, or somethin'."
Lily put his fists on his hips then, grinning slyly before retorting, "You come do it then."
Gajeel's gaze shot back to his companion, panic stricken for half a second before he hardened his expression, never one to back down from a challenge.
"Fine then, I will." And with that he moved to his hands and knees, shuffling awkwardly around the fire to Levy's side. Her hazel eyes watched him closely, the firelight turning them aglow in the dark. She smiled at him then as she watched him bring slightly shaky hands to her arm.
"Are you nervous, Gajeel?" Lily teased from somewhere behind Levy and Gajeel's face flashed into a indignant scowl.
"No! Shaddup, cat. Tch, I just don't want to hurt her." His features softened as he finished his sentence and he could feel Levy's intense gaze on him. He refused to meet her eyes after his gushy confession and set about finally tying her bandage properly.
Levy felt the heat gathering in her cheeks, her blush deepening every time his fingers brushed her skin and sent tiny shivers to her core. Goose bumps raised on her arm as he worked and she finally looked away from him shyly, her blue curls curtaining her face from his meticulous gaze as he sat back to appreciate his work.
"There," he said proudly, crossing his arms and puffing his chest out as he sat cross-legged beside the script mage.
"Well done, Gajeel," Lily praised his Dragon Slayer partner and moved around to Levy's front, helping himself to curl up happily in her lap. She stroked his glossy obsidian fur absently, finally looking towards Gajeel to thank him.
She caught him staring down at Pantherlily with slitted eyes and firm lips before he looked up to meet her gaze, switching his leer to a cocky smirk.
"Thank you, Gajeel," Levy beamed cheerily.
"Don't mention it, Shrimp." He replied, eyeing Lily again before he let loose a long sigh and leaned back on his palms again, rolling his head back to gaze up at what stars he could see beside the blinding light of the camp fire.
While he was angry at himself that Levy got hurt in the first place, he also realized how unrealistic it was to expect her to come out of every mission scratch free. He had to admit that she was amazing today in their fight against the bandits they needed to dispatch for their mission. Their magic surprisingly complimented each other quite well and he was pleased that she had agreed to come along.
Aside from the lulling crackle of logs on the fire, silence had descended upon the trio of friends. Gajeel lifted his head once more to peek over at Levy and Lily. Both had their eyes closed; Lily wearing a look of pure bliss as he was petted and Levy smiling contently as the fire warmed her bare skin.
"You were badass today, Levy." Gajeels deep voice rumbled and Levy's eyes shot open to look over at him, both surprised and pleased by his compliment and the fact that he had said her actual name. She blushed then and grinned proudly.
"Thank you, Gajeel. It...really means a lot to hear you say that. I'm just glad that no one else got seriously hurt."
He managed a soft smile at her that melted her heart.
"I really enjoy these missions together," she added more softly, looking away to stare into the dancing flames before them. "It feels good to have a team you can really rely on." She felt a little guilty saying it out loud. She had nothing but friendly love towards her Team Shadow Gear counterparts, but what she said was true. She couldn't always rely on Jet and Droy the way that she could undoubtedly rely on Gajeel and Pantherlily.
Gajeel sat there quietly, soaking in what she had said and it warmed his heart. She felt safe at his side. That was something that he had worked very hard to make a reality for her after he made an oath to himself to become her protector in the wake of their stormy past.
The fire was starting to lose some of its glow and warmth and Gajeel stood with a groan, stretching on his feet.
"I'm gonna go get some more wood." And with that he disappeared into the darkness of the night.
Levy watched his form meld into the blackness and sighed, then was startled when Lily suddenly spoke in her lap.
"He cares very deeply for you. I've witnessed how much he has changed in the time that I've known him and I can tell you that it's because of his feelings for you."
Levy looked down at the exceed who was still curled up in a tight ball, his eyes closed.
"Why doesn't he tell me about his feelings then?" Levy asked, the frustration evident in her tone.
Pantherlily smiled patiently. "Because he doesn't yet feel like he deserves you, Levy."
"Idiot." Levy whispered and Lily chuckled despite himself. He then cleared his throat and finally opened his eyes to look up at the script mage.
"Why haven't you told him about your feelings, Levy?"
Levy opened her mouth to reply, but then closed it as she thought about the answer she was about to give. A lot of different emotions bubbled up within her mind when she thought of the Iron Dragon Slayer. How was it possible to put them all into words. It wasn't as simple as she initially thought.
Before she could answer, Gajeel stepped back into the waning light of the campfire, depositing a pile of dry dead fall he'd beaten to appropriate size. He strategically placed a few pieces over the dying fire and blew gently, sitting back with a satisfied smirk when the flames grew steadily back to continue their rhythmic dancing.
Levy stared into the fire, lost in thought. Because I'm afraid of being rejected.
Gajeel's voice broke through her thoughts then and she looked up to see him standing over her.
"What?" She asked, suddenly embarrassed that she hadn't heard what exactly he said.
"I said, Shorty, that we should get some sleep if we want to get an early start heading back home tomorrow."
"Oh." She looked down to Lily in her lap and gently wrapped her arms around him before she stood, cradling him in her arms as she made her way to her sleeping bag.
Gajeel's lips tightened and his eyes narrowed as he regarded her, wondering why she was suddenly so quiet and reserved. What did Lily do? He eyed his cat suspiciously, then longingly as he was handled with so much care in the bookworms arms. He found himself wondering if she would ever touch him with such love and care, when he wasn't just beaten and bruised.
Lily grinned teasingly at him and stuck his tongue out and Gajeel stiffened and scowled. Damn cat!
Lily was always welcomed close contact with the bookworm, so why shouldn't he receive the same treatment?
With a huff Gajeel stomped over to his own sleeping bag and bent to drag it closer to Levy's. Her alarmed gasp caused him to grin wickedly.
"G-Gajeel? What are you doing?"
He turned mischievous eyes towards her, the firelight reflected off of his ruby hues, making them glow with an unnatural light.
"Don't feel like cuddling with a dragon?" He asked, his playful grin exposing his fangs.
Levy blushed crimson at just the thought of cuddling with Gajeel and Lily felt himself being squeezed in her arms as she buried her face against his back.
"Levy!" The exceed wheezed. Gajeel geeheed and continued with his bedding preparations; easing the edge of his sleeping bag right up against Levy's.
Levy loosened her hold on Pantherlily and lifted her head to look back over her shoulder, watching Gajeel settle into his sleeping bag, still chuckling deviously. He then looked up at her and patted the material of her sleeping bag beside him.
"Come to bed, Shrimp."
Levy thought for sure steam would start rolling out of her ears and her face returned to full fledged crimson.
"G-Gajeeel!" she squeaked, turning her head to smother it on Lily's back once more. Pantherlily succumbed in her arms, sighing softly.
"I..I wont be able to sleep!" Her muffled voice cracked. Gajeel continued to grin at her back, enjoying making her squirm. She looked adorable when she blushed and stammered. Teasing her had become one of his most enjoyable past times. That, and it also told him a lot of what she wasn't saying out loud when it came to how she felt towards him.
"I can help you fall to sleep." Gajeel's deep voice drawled, his tongue playing over his fang tips as he awaited her response. He wasn't disappointed.
Levy felt her legs wobble beneath her and she gasped, dropping Lily unceremoniously as she retreated away into the darkness with a noise that could only be described as part squeal part sob.
Lily promptly stood and dusted himself off before turning to scowl at his partner. "Gajeel Redfox!" He barked, his tone condescending.
"Whaaat?" Gajeel whined, falling back onto the ground, his lips still parted in a grin.
"She's right. The poor girl will never be able to sleep now." He stated, moving to sit in the middle of her sleeping bag.
"Tch, it's your fault." Gajeel muttered, still laid out. Lily scoffed.
"I fail to see how this is my fault."
Gajeel sat up then, his hands moving to pull aside his bag so that he could stand.
"You always look so smug in her arms; like you're purposefully torturing me."
Lily grinned then, nodding. "It is wonderful. She's very comfortable."
"I hate you." Gajeel muttered as he walked past his exceed, following the direction that he had sent Levy retreating in. Lily smirked at his back.