Hey this is Medley Nightfallen! I finally found a beta reader and she's correcting those chapters for me! As a consequence, I've deleted the next chapters because I wanted to take a fresh start with this corrected version (yes, because unfortunately for you, I am still french and my english is far from perfect, so I prefer to "erase my mistakes-that-ruin-the-story"). So I hope you'll enjoy better now!
His chin comfortably secured in his right palm, his elbow resting on the wooden support of the counter and his eyes closed, Gajeel Redfox was trying to ignore the loud diatribe coming from the man in the next seat. A giant, dark-skinned man with white hair, he kept harping on and on; as usual, it was some nonsense or other about the "duty of a man." Gajeel was beginning to believe that he was incapable of talking about anything else.
"Oi, buddy! Are you listening?" Elfman asked in his deep, bass voice.
"I'm going to answer truthfully," the Iron Dragon Slayer said, laying his garnet eyes on him. "…Nope."
"But a man always listens when someone is speaking!"
Gajeel cocked an eyebrow.
"Y'know, you're a weird guy," he mused.
"I'm not weird! I'm a man!"
"So – what? Are you telling me I'm not a man, huh? So I'm, what? A chick?" Gajeel's fangs flashed as Elfman sneered.
"No. You're a creepy bastard-" the Dragon Slayer twitched- "-An antisocial loner who's sorely lacking manners and spends time eating metal-"
"Shut-"
"And I don't even understand why people talk to you! Especially Nab and Alzack-"
"WILL YOU FUCKING SHUT UP ALREADY?"
Instinctively, they both rose, eyes clashing with anger, and as one, like some strange, grotesque ballet, their right arms flared with magic-
"Iron Dragon Club!"
"Beast Arm: Iron Bull!"
-before they rushed each other, swearing and spitting insults. Macao, already tipsy for so early in the afternoon, jumped on the counter with a full mug of beer in hand, and declared the general battle open to all comers. Enthusiastic shouts rang through the hall, signaling another fight about to burst in Fairy Tail's Guild Hall. Wakaba stood and punched his old drinking friend, sending him flying to face-first into a tabletop after a mid-air collision with some poor waitress. The girl tripped and crashed into Erza, resulting in her precious strawberry cake dropping with a splat to the floor.
"M-my… my strawberry cake…"
The waitress, all too aware of what was about to happen, promptly apologized and fled for her life, while Titania began to shake, eyes fixed on the scattered remains of her beloved cake… and weak point. Her cheeks flushed scarlet, her temper boiling. Within moments, she – and the table she had been sitting at – exploded, and she violently kicked the first person she saw between the legs. Her victim collapsed heavily, tears in his eyes.
"F-for once… it… it wasn't me, Erza!"
"GREY-SAMA!" Juvia screamed, hysterical, and she threw herself dramatically onto the man. "Are you alright, Grey-sama?"
"I'M ALL FIRED UP, GAJEEL!"
The Iron Dragon Slayer turned away from the Elfman-shaped hole in the opposite wall and glared at his best enemy with bored disdain. Natsu… what does that hothead want from me now? he thought. Choosing to ignore him, Gajeel growled and turned his back on Salamander, a clear sign that he couldn't care less about the Fire Dragon Slayer.
"AAAH! You creep! You moron!" Natsu shrieked at his back.
Gajeel frowned and crossed his arms over his chest, a devilish smile on his lips.
"Who're you calling moron?"
"Duh, you, moron! You mutant hedgehog!"
"Wha- I'LL CRUSH YOUR SKULL IN, YOU PINKY CHICK!"
And a new fight ignited between them, one among many that neither would ever claim victory in. Lucy sighed, ready to slam her head against the table. Neither of them was very bright; in fact, both seemed bound and determined to prove their stubborn stupidity. After Natsu and Grey's long-standing rivalry, here now the roots of another were taking hold of the two Dragon Slayers.
"Watch out, Lucy! Poultry at three o'clock!" Alzack shouted, narrowly dodging said bird, flying in from nowhere, as it sailed toward the blond. She turned and yelped in horror as she saw a whole roast chicken rocketing toward her face. Without thinking, she mimicked the gunslinger, swiftly bending out of its way. A tremendous thump rang in her ears, heralding its collision with someone else.
"Okay, who's the bastard that dared to throw this thing at me?" Cana yelled, wiping meat and grease from her face.
"It was Levy!" Max offered with a grin, as he dodged a blow from Nab.
"What? No! No, it wasn't!" the accused replied, outraged. "Cana, it wa- KYAAH!"
Diving left, Levy narrowly avoided the barrel that the alcoholic had just thrown. The aged wood, however, burst upon impact, and a cold flood of beer and splinters showered down on her, soaking her head to toe. Mouth half-open, she stared at the floor, struck dumb with surprise. She stood, then, quivering, body arched like an enraged cat, and pointed a blue-veiled fingertip at Cana, whilst the brunette drew three tarot cards from her bag.
"Solid Script-"
"Card Magic-"
"STOP!"
They all stopped what they were doing, heads turning toward the Master's office. He stood at its doorstep, frowning, back slightly bent. One hand rose to massage his wrinkled temples with the ease of long practice, drooping down to rub his chin. After a second, he cracked his neck and sharply rapped his cane on the floor.
"You are getting annoying, you brainless children. Well. Gajeel, in my office, now!"
The Dragon Slayer looked up questioningly, but reached for his bag and followed after the old man. No doubt about it; I'm leaving for a mission soon. A sigh escaped him, though it quickly turned into a growl. Why the hell did I accept this mission? Oh yeah, to make amends…
"You too, Levy-chan!" The Master's voice drifted down into the hall.
Choosing to ignore the daggers that Gajeel was glaring at him, Makarov noticed that the young girl hadn't fully understood him.
"You too, Levy-chan."
After a few seconds, she nodded nervously, glaring at Cana. Then, with a forced smile, she followed, despite the knot that had tied itself in her throat.
With uncertainty, the two mages trailed after their Master, his office door closing behind them. All others watched with disconcerted gazes, with a single thought in all of their minds:
Why had Gajeel and Levy been called together?
~~0~~0~~0~~
"Hmph…"
"Problem, Gajeel?" the Master asked innocently.
"Yeah. What are we doing here?"
"I'm getting to that" Makarov replied, shuffling across the tiny room. "You can wait until I get to my seat, can't you?"
The Dragon Slayer smirked, cocking his head to one side.
"True, you are too small to see us without it. Hn-"
"I'm not small!" the old man roared, slapping him.
"Yeah, yeah."
The ex-Phantom looked away, hands dug into the pockets of his trousers. He wasn't pleased – in fact, he was far from it. Normally, he left here alone. No one in the guild was aware of his mission. So, could someone explain to me what Magnolia's biggest nerd is doing here with me? We're not exactly the best of pals, huh.
"You gonna explain this or what?" Gajeel finally demanded.
"What."
"That's it. I'm getting outta here." He pushed his seat back and stood up, Levy wincing at the squeal of wood on wood.
"Ah ah ah! You stay her, you damn kid! You and Levy-chan are going to Crocus."
At that, the Solid Script mage started violently, squeaking with surprise. Gajeel, however, whirled around, face twisted in a vicious snarl that would have scared the pee out a lesser man.
"What?"
"You. Levy-chan. Both of you. Mission. Crocus. Got it?" the Master pronounced each word slowly and deliberately, as though speaking to a child.
"WHAT?" Gajeel roared again.
Sighing slowly, Makarov wondered what on Earthland he could have done to deserve such fool. Vaguely, he pointed Levy toward the door, though she continued to stare at him as though he had just ordered her to kill innocent children. But justified response or not, things would never change at this rate.
"Go wash yourself," he ordered, struggling to keep his tone both firm and kind.
"Huh?" Levy could only gape stupidly at him. "What?"
"You're soaked; go wash yourself."
"Oh," she remarked, just now truly seeing the sorry state of her beery, splintery clothes and hair. She opened her mouth to speak again, but the Master continued on.
"Your train tickets are already reserved. You leave in one hour. As for the mission, I will explain everything to Gajeel. Meanwhile, go prepare your stuff, okay?"
"Oi! I didn't agree to that!" the black-haired man replied, violently stomping the floor. "What's this fucking shit?"
"Levy-chan, leave. Please," Makarov asked, standing up in his chair.
Instantly, the young woman spun and silently left the room as the atmosphere gradually turned –
"Well, you old camel?"
"WHAT WAS THAT, YOU BRAT?"
-electric, to say the least.
~~0~~0~~0~~
Levy grabbed a navy blue towel and wrapped it around her head, vigorously rubbing her mass of hair. She looked around for her favorite headband, and caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. She smiled sadly, wondering what next? But that was obvious; I'm leaving on a mission. A mission with… with him.
"You done yet?"
She shivered slightly at the hoarse, rocky voice; she knew it too well. Speak of the devil… Mechanically, she tied her damp hair up in the orange ribbon and stole a last glance at the mirror.
"I'm ready. You can come in."
The handle turned and the door opened, revealing the very same man who had been occupying her thoughts, his massive figure taking up far more of the doorframe than she was completely comfortable with. Face twisted in stubborn rebellion, Gajeel contemplated her for a long time, further discomfiting her. Finally, he moved; he shifted a little, pulled a khaki shoulder bag from his back and threw it at her. Levy caught it, raising a questioning eyebrow.
"What's- ?" she began.
"Your things," he answered simply.
"But-"
"Bisca put it together, alright?"Gajeel snorted at the implication.
"Oh, okay."
At a loss for words, Levy tossed her towel in the hamper and adjusted her jeans, put on a large gray coat and slung the bag across one shoulder.
"Are – are we leaving?" she ventured.
"Yeah," the Dragon Slayer grunted, choosing not to elaborate.
She shook her head gently and quickly followed as he left the bathroom. Taking care to close the door behind her, something terrible occurred to her. Jett and Droy would take this badly. Very badly. Especially because she'd have no time to warn them, although she knew she could count on Lucy to tell them. But still… It's all so sudden, isn't it? she thought. The Master certainly had to have a plan. But what was it?
"Op, op, op! Where do you think you're going?"
The new "team" looked down, staring at a visibly angry Master Makarov.
"Uh, doing the mission." Gajeel rolled his eyes.
"Is that so?" Makarov thundered. "Without knowing exactly where you have to go?"
Frustrated, Levy glanced at the Dragon Slayer, who growled back from the balcony.
"What? Got a problem with that?"
"No, not at all." The Master waved a mockingly dismissive hand at the pair. Gajeel snorted and turned away.
"You're going to Crocus. And you're going to stay in a hotel – the Ryokan SukiSuki."
"SUKISUKI?" the two mages yelled in unison, unsettled by the name. [1]
"Reassure me," Gajeel said in a tone that would paralyze most people. "It's not a… a Love Hotel, right?"
The Dragon Slayer seethed, an almost visible aura of anger and rage radiating toward the Master as he tried to find an answer, wondering what had possibly possessed Gajeel to ask that.
"Of course not!" he finally said, grinning. "Come on, Gajeel, stop talking nonsense. The client asked you to sleep there, that's all. Besides, I personally know the proprietor of the fine establishment."
Blacksteel, still uncertain, narrowed his red eyes and frowned, but he recognized a dismissal when he heard one.
"Well, if that's all… come on, let's go."
"Good-bye, Master!" Levy called, as one of Gajeel's massive arms began to drag her down the stairs.
Makarov sighed with relief, then turned and headed upstairs himself, locking himself in his office. At long last, he could focus on his favorite activity; reading. Not that those brats appreciate my kind of literature…
~~0~~0~~0~~
Editor's Note: Hey, this is Evil Midget Turtle, here to officially say hi to you all. Medley asked me if I would mind helping her make this English translation more readable , and I was ecstatic to say yes. Here's hoping you all enjoy my adaptation of Iron Vs Words; I tried to add my own style when there were gaps, but stay true to original feel of the piece. For example, I myself stay away from strong language, but well, this isn't my story, right? And besides, when Gajeel throws a tantrum, he'll say what he darn well pleases. Anyway, I split the chapters into half, as they're really long and I'm busy, and that also keeps us at the top of the boards. So enjoy, chapter 2 (1.5?) will be up hopefully with a week or two.
[1] In Japanese, "suki" means "like".
