In the aftermath of the Guild War, with Fairy Tail disbanded, many of its members wandered Magnolia and the surrounding towns in the days that followed. Most searched for new work or purposes to their lives after the abrupt change. Others seemed lost after the announcement; with blank expressions on their faces and no visible future written in their eyes.
Gajeel had never been a lost soul and wasn't planning on starting now. It was late into the night; nine days following the end. Gajeel slowly walked down the cobblestone road towards his favorite bar. Live music, dancing women, and plenty to drink. Can't go wrong no matter how you look at it. Gihi. As the bar came into view he could already hear the music pounding out and he wondered if this would be the day that he finally found her. Doubt she'd be in a dive like this though. Gajeel shook his head, trying to ignore his thoughts of the missing blunette as he entered the overcrowded bar; thousands of smells and sounds doing battle with his enhanced senses.
As he navigated through the poorly lit room his mind drifted to Lily. He had left for work in Hargeon two days prior and though he had asked Gajeel to join him he stayed back; not ready to move on yet. Something was still missing. Gajeel pushed his way through the crowded bar to order his drink. "Tall one" he said, slamming the last of his money down on the counter. Gotta find work soon. Trail went cold three days ago anyways he thought to himself as he made his way to a dark, empty corner of the room and the band began to play. The music, though not his taste, wasn't bad; just something for the people to dance to. He could do better.
Sitting out of sight he gave into his desire and let his mind return to its natural flow without objecting. Somehow in the confusion that occurred after Fairy Tail disbanded he had lost sight of Levy and that bothered him. They had grown friendlier towards one another since Tenrou Island and he felt obligated to at least say goodbye to her in person before they parted ways. He remembered how Pantherlily had laughed at his reasoning for wanted to find the woman before he left town. If he was honest with himself he wanted more with the woman but denied his feelings for one simple reason. He wasn't good enough. Gajeel sighed as he scanned the crowd knowing full well that Levy wouldn't be in a place like this, especially at two in the morning. On stage the band changed to a different song with a faster pace. Not as shitty. Just as he was bringing his drink to his lips for another sip he caught sight of a streak of blue hair. Mind must be playing tricks on me, no way in hell she'd be—but before he could finish his thought her scent hit him like a wave crashing over his entire body and send a chill down his spine. It was intoxicating and if he was to be honest with himself arousing. He sat up on his stool and scanned the dance floor closely and she was there. Somehow fate had stepped in and when he had stopped searching it had pulled them together. Gajeel thought about how she would have some big, technical word for this but all he could think was damn. All he wanted to do was walk over to her, breathe her in more, and be near her, but instead he stayed in his dark corner and watched, sipping his drink.
Levy's hair was pulled back in a messy bun and beginning to fall out in small, slightly damp ringlets around her face, without a headband to pull them away. She had been dancing for what seemed like days and had no plans of stopping yet. "Are you a hundred percent you will be safe on your own?" Erza yelled to her over the music. Levy had come with Erza and Lucy hours before but Lucy was highly inebriated and needed to be taken home before she attempted to take off her top again. Levy nodded her head to the tall woman who, though still concerned for the blunette turned and lifted the drunk Spirit Mage over her shoulder and headed towards the double doors. Ersa felt that leaving the small script mage alone in the bar was irresponsible but Levy had claimed her strength and so she agreed to her staying. Levy laughed as she watched Lucy slap her hands repeatedly on Erza's ass as though playing the bongos. She's going to get hell tomorrow. She thought as she turned back to dance some more. As Erza crossed through the doorway Lucy let out one last scream of pure drunken joy before she returned to her endless slapping.
Levy laughed again as she moved with the beat. It had been a nice goodbye; for in the morning the three friends would be parting ways for at the very least a few weeks. As the music pumped through the room her body seemed to hum with the pounding of the base. Her arms twirled above her head and slowly down her curves. The tight green dress she had borrowed from Lucy left little to the imagination and though she wasn't as blessed as Lucy was she filled it out perfectly. It stopped just below her ass and the back was open; displaying her Fairy Tail symbol with pride. She closed her eyes and moved with the music until a set of hands touched her hips gently from behind. She turned around and smiled up at the man, who was a stranger to her and began to move his body towards hers.
She's dancing with another man, for all the world to see!? In his fist Gajeel's drink shattered and the remainder of the liquor dripped down his fingers before resting on the shards of broken glass. He watched as the man put his hands on her and she did not object. He could feel his blood boiling and in the back of his head he could hear Lily's voice reminding him She's not yours Gajeel. The man whispered something into her ear to which Levy nodded as the song came to an end and the audience cheered for more. Levy began to dance again as the band started up their next song but this time she was alone. Her partner had ventured towards the bar to order a drink; most likely for her. Gajeel pulled himself deeper into the shadows as the man ventured towards his dark corner with the beverage. He watched as he pulled from his pocket a small vial of green liquid and poured it into the drink. He twisted his wrist a few times to mix it in before turning to smile over at Levy who was not even looking in his direction; too focused on feeling the music to care.
Oh fuck this! Gajeel moved quickly from his hidden corner. In one swift move his hand was in the back of the man's head, his fingers twisting through his greasy hair. Before he had time to react Gajeel guided his body around and slammed his face into the adjacent brick wall. He was knocked out cold with blood trailing down an open gash on his forehead. Levy's drink fell to the floor and shattered; toxic smoke circling out from the shards. Gajeel dumped the body in his former corner, not caring to be gentle. Once he was out of the way for good Gajeel moved out onto the dance floor. No one had noticed what he had done nor would he have cared if they did. He was done waiting for what he wanted; his animal nature was taking control. The rage he felt inside was rolling off him as he reached Levy. He grabbed her hips with no gentleness in mind and began to grind against her from behind with the pounding of the base as his guide. Not a beat was missed; she reached her hands back and placed them on his thighs as she moved with his body guiding hers.
Levy knew her dance partner had changed the moment he touched her hips. The gentleness of her first partner did not match the roughness and cool touch that her new one possessed. Levy smiled to herself as she grinded with him, knowing all too well who it was. I thought I saw you walk in here tonight. She took a deep breath in and enjoyed the spicy, iron smell that drizzled off of him. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander at his touch and the feel of his body pressed into her own. I've thought about how it would feel to be in his arms for so long she thought as she boldly reached back and touched his thighs; feeling his muscles tighten as she left them there and continued to move to the music with Gajeel as her guide. With her eyes still closed and the music still pumping on, Levy turned her body around to face Gajeel.