This is just a one-shot that I thought I should get off my chest.


The bookstore had better be open, Levy thought. Or else I'm gonna be mad! Stupid rain, she added mentally to the sky.

"Mutterin' ta yourself again, midget?" questioned a gruff voice from behind her.

She jumped at least five feet in the air, which was a record. Whirling, she found herself facing the Iron Dragon slayer himself: Gajeel.

"Uwaah! You scared me, Gajeel! Gosh," she replied. Her heart hammered furiously, blood rising in her face.

He snickered. "Doesn't surprise me." She sneezed, drawing attention to her bare shoulders. He frowned, the wrinkles in his forehead consequently widening. "I swear, shorty…" His coat landed on her head with a fwop.

She lifted a sleeve and peeked out shyly from underneath it. "What?"

"Put the coat on already. I don't wanna listen to ya sneezin' the entire time we're walkin' ta the bookstore." She blinked up at him. "You're coming with me?" she asked.

"Yeah. The old man says that we shouldn't be walkin' alone as of now-'pparently Twilight Ogre still ain't happy with us too much."

Wow, I'm way smaller than him, she mused as she slid her arms through his earthy-smelling sleeves. Whoa, he smells good. Then she blushed. Why am I thinking about that?!

Gajeel stared at her as she shook her head violently to rid her face of the redness.

She's so cute in that coat. He slapped a hand to his forehead. What the geez is wrong with me? I can't think about her like that.

After all, it's not like he deserved to. He was a cold-hearted jerk as far as she was concerned. He had strung her to a tree. He had no right to feel what he felt for her.

Of course, she was too smart for him anyways. Probably never wanted a man to begin with-he'd heard about how fast she'd turned down Speedy and Fatso. It has nothing to do with me wanting to protect her-that's all I want to do-it's that a) I don't deserve her and b) it's not like she needs me, anyways...she's a freakin' genius.

Levy, meanwhile, was busy trying to fold the sleeves of Gajeel's jacket up. Her cheeks were still (unfortunately) warm; and while her pulse had slowed down some, she still couldn't look at him.

He makes me so nervous! I shouldn't feel this way. He's grumpy and mean and cranky. Her eyes travelled to his hand, stuffed into his pocket. But...I can't help it. I want to have him hold me and tell me everything will be okay. I want to hear that chuckle that makes my heart thump. Lucy's voice ricocheted inside of the bluenette's head. "You'll understand when it happens, Levy. We both will." But-! Gajeel…? He couldn't possibly want someone-someone so...small! He probably dreamt about dating Erza, or Mira, or even Lisanna! There was no way it was her he thought about.

"Oye."

Levy's head snapped upwards to face Gajeel's. "Yeah?"

She cursed at herself mentally. My voice came out so shaky! Can he tell that I'm nervous? Probably. Oh, geez.

His eyes were surprisingly warm. "You're gonna catch cold, midget."

She smiled at him, eyes crinkling with her own brand of warmth. "No, I'm okay. Although, it wouldn't hurt to maybe get some coffee. I'm assuming that my bookstore is probably closed." She gestured (with a somewhat soggy sleeve) to Paper Words, her favorite place to curl up and read. The sign read Closed! Sorry for the inconvenience.

He chuckled.

She swallowed, blood rising in her cheeks once again.

"Ne, Gajeel."

"Nani?"

"...you buying?"

He looked at her in genuine astonishment. "Are ya kiddin' me? I've seen how much you eat, shorty! I ain't payin' fer anythin' of yers!"

"Not even a coffee?"

"No!"

Love isn't mysterious, not really. It's just weirdly adorable.


That it is. Especially when it comes to Gajeel and Levy. :)