"Hey Luce!" Natsu grinned, waltzing up to his mate with a large grin plastered on his face, "What'cha wanna do today?"

The celestial mage replied enthusiastically and was soon whisked away to the mission board. Levy just sat and watched, a feeling of loneliness tugging at her. Since the two had finally gotten together, they'd been glued to each other's sides. Even when Lucy and Levy went out just the two of them, Natsu at some time would show up and end up taking her off somewhere. She was happy for the couple, of course, but sometimes she just wanted her friend back.

And them being together made her think about a certain Iron Dragon Slayer more and more.

She huffed, pulling out a book and staring down at the pages.

He wasn't even fazed when the two got together and he made no advances on her since. And just when she thought they might've started to get somewhere…

"Oi, Levy!" Jet called, running up to her, "Wanna go on a mission?"

"Yeah, Levy!" Droy waddled up behind him, sandwich in hand, "Its been so long since we've gone on a mission together!"

"Sorry guys," Levy smiled, not seeming to get the expression quite into her eyes, "I just don't feel like it today."

"But Levy!" they cried in unison, whining in high-pitched voices. She felt a little annoyed with their antics, preferring to be alone instead.

She opened her mouth to make another excuse when a dark figure caught her attention. In stalked the brooding Gajeel, his black cloak making a light swooshing noise as he walked. Pantherlilly flew behind him, saying something about training as he followed.

Jet and Droy's continued whining made her focus back on them. She sighed, the agitation showing more than she had really wanted. The two immediately stopped and stared at her quietly.

"Not today, guys," she said again, more firmly, "I'm just not up to it… why don't you two just go? Don't let me hold you back,"

"But it won't be the same without you, Levy," Droy chirped, worry furrowing his brow, "What's wrong? Is it something we can fix?"

"No," she sighed, "I doubt it. Anyway, just go on ahead and tell me about it when you get back, ok?"

"Ok…" the both said sadly, walking off to the mission board.

The little blue-nette sighed and turned back to her book. It was a romance novel. Even as she read she felt the loneliness start creeping back to her. Reading a book about a girl pining for her love really didn't help her situation. Frowning, she slammed the book closed and sat it on the table.

She chanced a glance over at Gajeel.

He was sitting at the bar with Lilly, drinking a large mug of some sort of alcohol. He ran a hand through his tangled mess of hair and listened to the bartender gossip happily. Mirajane was so nice and pretty, and Levi would be lying if she said she wasn't envious of the Satan-Soul-weilding, S-class wizard.

"Maybe if I looked like her…" Levy mumbled, looking back to Gajeel.

His muscles flexed easily as he brought the mug to his lips. Scars crisscrossed his skin in a way that made him look like a cold, war-hero. He watched Mira with a look of disinterest, only giving her a portion of his attention. His red eyes glistened like rubies, giving him a dangerous edge that thrilled the Script Mage. Sometimes she would wonder what it would be like for those eyes to be on her while they were together alone, both of them exposed…

She looked away quickly as blush started to come to her face. She mentally kicked herself. She was supposed to be focusing on everything BUT Gajeel, not gawk at him openly. Letting out another sigh, she started to put away her things to go home. She tried not to notice the shadow that quickly consumed her.

"Where you off to so early, Shrimp?"

She turned around to see Gajeel standing far closer than she thought he'd be. She jumped back, clutching her bag. He stood, arms crossed, not two feet away. His body was leaning towards her and a look of amused curiosity played on his face.

"I-I… I was going to go home," she stammered under the intimidating mage's stare.

"Why?" he said bluntly.

"Why is it so important?" Levy retorted back. She didn't owe him any answers. Why was he asking anyway?

"Its not!" Gajeel growled back, "You can do whatever the hell you want! Lilly just wanted to know if you wanted to come with us since Jet and Droy just left, is all,"

"Go… with you…?" Levy was completely dumbfounded.

"Yeah," he huffed, "but forget it. The two of us will be fine on our own anyway,"

The Script Mage just looked down at her feet as he stalked away, mumbling something she couldn't hear. Her heart was fluttering at the thought of going with the two. She was sure she'd only get in the way, though. She sighed inwardly. She was weak in every way, it seemed.

She looked over at Gajeel as he stood in front of the mission board, a cross look plastered all over his face. Even when he was angry she found herself being charmed by him. No matter how much she tried not to have feelings for the Dragon Slayer, she knew deep down her feelings would stay. It was almost like the curses she'd unraveled in the past, except this time, rewriting a few words or finding a secret phrase wasn't going to save her.

So why run from how she felt?

She balled her hands up into fists. Her resolve began to grow.

She walked up to the mission board and stood beside the Dragon Slayer. He looked at her, surprise evident on his face.

"So, where are we going?" she said, looking at the board.

"Geehee… think you can handle this, Shrimp?" he looked down at the determined blue-nette.

"I know I can," she looked up at him, a smile on her face.

"Fine then," Gajeel smirked, "we're taking this one,"

Levy knew she'd be lying if she said she didn't feel nervous, but as Gajeel handed the paper to Mirajane she gathered all her resolve and followed behind him. She could do this. She would show Gajeel Redfox that she could be strong too. She would finally get his attention.