Pairing: Gajevy/GaLe (I don't know which name to stick with. Let me know which you like better!) Features side pairings.
Genre: Romance/Humor
Summary: Fairy Tail is home away from home. Sanity does not live here, however. And its name is definitely not Gajeel Redfox.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any associations. I also don't own any brands, store names, or music that may pop up or anything associated with those. This is strictly fan-made.
Notes: I love this pairing and just had to right another story for them! This is a multi-chapter AU based on Levy's interactions within Fairy Tail. Please let me know your honest opinions!
Fairy Tail is Home Away from Home.
Sanity does not live here, however.
Levy sighed and closed the journal she'd just written in. She'd just save the actual entry part until she got to her apartment later like she always did. Right now, it was crunch time. She had a killer English test tomorrow, and if everyone would just shut up, maybe she'd actually remember some of what she was reading.
"Why don't you just study in your apartment?" her best friend, Lucy asked her once. The answer: the silence was deafening, and there was too much temptation to read the other million books that she was dying to finish.
Levy's apartment was just that: nothing but her and wall to wall bookshelves so full that there were extra books stacked in various places around the small rooms. She had started and not finished so many books that it was painful. She wasn't a slow reader by any means; she either was dying to start a new one she just bought and put down the old one, or she was buried up to her ears in homework that involved other books. That's what she gets for being in an English major…not that she minded of course.
Levy sighed and examined her surroundings, taking another quick mind break before she dove back into the wonderful world of literature.
Fairy Tail was a wonderful place. When people walk past it, they all think it's some medieval-looking bar, but it was so much more than that. The wood and brick on the outside were faded by the sun, and they had a bird-fairy-looking creature with a pointy tail as a logo, giving it the signature medieval look. The inside matched the outside: worn to perfection with high ceilings, barrels of booze, and circular, wooden tables filling a majority of it. It was more than just booze and loud screaming people (though that was what it was pretty much known for). It also served any drink you could find at a local café, there were computers lining the left wall, outlets on every column to charge whatever device you had, and even a large bulletin board in the back that had want ads for businesses all over town and in nearby towns as well. Fairy Tail was home away from home—which is the actual slogan. They even own the apartment complex that Levy lived in up the hill!
All the people that came in were usually regulars that came every day and stayed all day before going home because they had nowhere else to go. That's another thing that made it home: they were all family. Everyone knew pretty much everyone, and if a new regular came in, it didn't take long to get acquainted. Even the people that came around only every now and again were recognizable. Everyone watched out for each other because usually that was the only family they had. Like Levy.
"You know, I found that a little alcohol helped me concentrate better when I was in college," a voice said, snapping Levy out of her observations. It was Cana, a beautiful brunette clad in a bikini top, crop jacket, and capris.
Levy rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure you were drunk throughout college." Cana had been known for her drinking habits. Girl can hold her booze.
"Don't knock it 'till you try it," she said, giving the young bluenette a wink and walking off to her usual table in the corner where a wine barrel sat, just for her.
Levy sat. She wished she could be that carefree all the time. Shoving her dream aside, she went back to reading the open book in front of her, taking notes as she went along.
Before she knew it, another voice was interrupting her. "Mind if I join?"
Glancing up, her hazel eyes landed on a tall figure with long, unruly black hair and a number of piercings. Levy bit her lip, looking from him to the mess of books around her. Everyone knew not to bother her too much when she was studying; they all thought it was very important that she keep her grades up even if they hadn't in school—she was their little bookworm.
"I can take a hint," he said gruffly, shrugging and walking away, taking a seat at the end of the bar instead.
His name was Gajeel Redfox, but no one knew too much about him. He and a blue-haired girl named Juvia Lockser had just recently started coming to Fairy Tail—enough for everyone to at least recognize them and know their names. Everything else was a mystery.
Gajeel had been so cold to everybody. Why would he want to sit with her? And why did the owner let him in? No one knew.
"You look like you just saw a ghost," a busty blonde said to her, sliding into the seat across from her and her school explosion.
"Hey, Lu-chan!" Levy beamed, excited to see her best friend.
"Buried in the books again?" Lucy asked, taking in the sight before her.
"Killer test tomorrow," Levy explained, massaging the back of her neck. "Hey, have you ever talked to Gajeel?"
"I had a, um, strange run in with him once," the blonde said, a light blush tinting her cheeks. "But other than that, no."
"What happened?"
"I was wearing a Vegas bunny outfit—you know, red sequin one-piece, fishnets, bunny ears and tail—going on an odd job," Lucy explained, playing with the ends of her hair.
"Yeah, yeah. And?"
"I literally ran into him as he was walking out and I was coming here. He calls me Bunny Girl now."
Levy snorted. "I figured he'd just say, 'Move, bitch,' or something along those lines."
"Nah, he's actually been a decent person since that other bar across town that he worked at went under," Lucy said. "Maybe he was just a jackass because we were their competition?"
"Juvia's never acted like that," Levy said. "Well, not from the few conversations I've had with her."
"Who knows," Lucy shrugged. "Why did you ask about him anyway?"
"He actually asked to sit with me," Levy explained, scratching her head with the eraser of her pencil.
"That's pretty unusual," the blonde said. "I guess he changed his mind?"
"I think I didn't answer fast enough and he just walked away," the bluenette said. "Maybe he's trying to be nicer?"
"Well, you'll never know if you don't talk to him."
"I know, I'm just kinda nervous after, you know, that…thing." Levy's eyes cast to the side, landing on Gajeel at the end of the bar.
"You mean that incident with that Phantom Lord employee last year?" Lucy followed Levy's eyes. "You don't even know who that guy was. You never saw his face."
"I know, but I'm still cautious." Gajeel turned suddenly and both girls snapped their heads back to focusing on each other before they got caught.
"You're not that bad around Juvia," Lucy said, making a small gesture to the blue haired woman a few tables over. She was sewing something.
"I've barely spoken to her."
"You'll drop your grudge against those two eventually," Lucy shrugged, sliding out of her seat. "I'm gonna get some tea from the bar. You want anything?"
"Hazelnut coffee?" Levy asked, pleading puppy eyes in place.
Lucy sighed. "Usually it's just an empty offer, but you're lucky I love you."
As Lucy walked off, Levy went back to studying for the time being. She would get something accomplished eventually.
xXx
It was two A.M., and the only way Levy knew that was because the barmaid, Mira, gave Levy a pat on the back that knocked her out of her studying mindset and said, "It's last call, Levy. Usually I only have to say that to the drunken people."
Levy put her pencil down and rubbed her eyes. At least she was confident she was going to ace the test now. When she reopened her eyes, she looked around to see that Fairy Tail was as empty as she'd ever seen it. There were about four people left; even Cana went home already.
"Sorry, Mira." Levy's voice was hoarse from not speaking for so long. She cleared her throat and took a long swig of coffee. "I'll leave as soon as I pack up all my stuff."
"Should I find someone to walk you home?" the white-haired woman asked.
"You know I just live in Fairy Hills," Levy said, throwing her books into her messenger bag. "I'll be fine."
"Alright, but you be careful." With a wink, Mira left to wipe down the bar.
Levy heaved the large, heavy bag over her shoulder, stumbling out of her chair. She waved a quick goodbye to Mira and then pushed out the door, starting the short trek to her apartment. She walked for about five minutes before someone caught up to her.
"You look like you're struggling." The voice was deep and gruff.
Levy knew how to deal with these situations. Just act cool, play it off, and don't show any signs of interest or weakness. She'd be home soon. "I'm fine."
"If you say so."
They walked side by side without another word. Levy took a quick glance up to notice the figure that joined her was none other than Gajeel Redfox. And damn he was tall.
"Why are you here?" Levy asked.
"I had to walk home, too," he answered.
"But you're walking with me," Levy said, a little less rigid knowing it wasn't a complete stranger. Just a somewhat stranger.
"I'm just walking, and you happened to be walking, too," he said. "Guess we just kinda caught up."
Levy chewed on her lip. He was as cold as she thought he was. "Guess so."
There was a moment of silence before he said, "I can carry that for you."
Levy's eyes widened, looking between him and her loaded book bag. This couldn't be an everyday offer.
"You don't talk much do you?" he asked, sliding the bag off her shoulders and slinging it over one of his broad ones.
"Just be careful please," the small girl told him. "It took me forever to take all of those notes and I still want to review them before my test."
"You really are a nerd," he chuckled. Levy smacked his arm without a second thought.
Startled by the sudden contact (not the wimpy hit itself), Gajeel jerked back, and Levy's bag slipped off his shoulder, falling in a puddle they had both just stepped over. Levy gasped and dove for it, trying to pull it out before all of her books were ruined. Gajeel stepped out of her way.
"I told you to be careful!" she shouted, scrambling up. The bag soaked her jeans. "This stuff costed me a lot of time and money!"
"You're the one that hit me!" he bellowed back. "Is this the thanks I get for actually being nice?"
"As if you would know what being nice is like!"
"That's the last time I'm doing what Mira says!"
That brought the screaming match to a halt. "Wait, what?"
Gajeel shrugged. "Mira told me that if I walked home with you and lifted your load, she'd convince the owner to let me sing tomorrow night. Last time I'm ever doing that."
Levy's little fists balled up, and she gritted her teeth, mustering all her strength. With great effort, she swung her book bag and connected with Gajeel's legs, effectively knocking him over. She stumbled from the force of her swing and heaved her bag over her shoulder again, running away awkwardly, tossing, "You jerk!" back at him as she fled.
"Crazy shrimp!" he retorted, rubbing his knees.
XxX
Levy switched the hair dryer from her recently washed hair to her books scattered on her desk, attempting to dry both effectively.
"Honestly, who does he think he is?" the small girl grumbled to herself. It was three in the morning now, and she wasn't going to get much sleep. "I swear I'll slug him if he ruins this test for me tomorrow in any way."
She needed another blow-dryer, and was ninety-five percent sure Erza upstairs had one. How else would she keep her long, scarlet hair looking so silky and smooth?
Straightening out her fluffy pajama pants and tank top, Levy slipped on a pair of flip-flops, snatching the lanyard her apartment key was on and shuffling out the door, heading to Erza's. Erza was like a big sister to her at Fairy Tail, so surely she wouldn't mind a strange request this early in the morning…right?
As soon as Levy climbed her final step and clamored into the hallway, she ran into a solid figure that just stepped out of his door. No. Flipping. Way.
"YOU!" Levy screamed, stumbling backwards and pointing at Gajeel. "You live here?"
He pointed at her mockingly. "And you're still yelling at me?"
Levy growled, stamping her foot. "I didn't come here for you."
"I figured you wouldn't get all dressed up for me," he said, taking in her appearance. "Nice ninja turtles."
Levy felt the strong need to cover up, managing to grumble a, "Whatever."
She stomped past him, slamming her fist on Erza's door. The sooner she could get this hairdryer, the sooner she could lock herself in her room and forget about this whole night. Except she couldn't because the evidence was spread out on her desk.
Erza answered the door with a yawn, clad in a short, galaxy print robe. "Levy?"
"Sorry to bother you, but can I borrow your hairdryer? It's really important, and I promise I'll return it to you as soon as possible."
"Maybe when I'm actually awake?" she suggested, but had an edge of humor in her voice. She disappeared and returned with the instrument, its cord wrapped around the body.
"Thank you so much!" Levy squealed, snatching it and taking off to her room. And then fell on her face in front of her newly sworn enemy.
"Nice," Gajeel chuckled, opening his apartment door.
"Did you even go anywhere?"
He dangled a small flash drive in front of her face as she stood up and brushed herself off. "Went and got this from a few rooms down. Don't think I just walked out to make your life miserable."
"I wouldn't be surprised."
"Maybe I'll do it from now on."
"Don't count of this being a regular thing."
Without another word, Gajeel rolled his eyes and stepped into his apartment, shutting his door as she passed. This night wouldn't be forgotten. It was a call for war.
