No Prince in Shining Armor
Chapter 1
Levy stretched her arms over her head as she walked up the last couple of steps to her apartment. The petite girl opened her door and flipped on the light, dropping her bag on a table chair. The word mage once again stretched her arms, wore out from the solo mission she just finished up. It was too late now to go to the guild so she'll have to go tomorrow. A smile spread across her face as she caught sight of a bright red ribbon wrapped around a new book sitting on her bookcase.
She hummed as she unwrapped it, her eyes widening as she saw what book it was. By God, she has been wanting this book since as long as she could remember. But it cost several millions of jewels since it was so rare. And by the looks of it, this was a first edition with a signature from the author. Levy sighed, wishing not for the first time that she knew the name of her admirer.
Every time she returns from a mission for the past six months, she finds a new book wrapped up in a ribbon on her bookcase. No name. No clues. Nothing to point to the name of this person. Levy placed the book on the table before heading off to bed. Best not to linger on it any longer. Especially considering she's about dead on her feet. Crawling under the covers, Levy allowed sweet sleep to take her over, making a note to talk to the girls tomorrow.
~The Next Day~
"Maybe it's Gajeel." Levy proceeded to nearly choke on her tea. Fried, the forever gentleman, pat her gently on the back. Lucy was holding her stuff away from her to avoid having tea getting on her books and papers. The blue haired woman waved them away as she managed to catch her breath.
"Are you alright, Levy?"
Levy smiled as she nodded to Yukio. "I would be better if it wasn't for the fact Cana was trying to kill me." She glared at the woman in the bikini top across from her, who only smirked. The word mage thanked Lucy as the blonde woman handed her back her things.
"Maybe Big Sister Cana is on to something."
The smallest adult at the table stared at Romeo. "Think about it though, Big Sister Levy. Gajeel seems to have some sort of protective streak in him when it comes to you. Well, he has one when it comes to everyone in the guild. But more noticeable when it comes to you."
Fried nodded thoughtful before adding, "There's also the fact that you love him." Pale cheeks became dull red as Levy stuttered out, "I-Is it that obvious?"
Yukio reached across the table and pat Levy's hand with a warm smile while saying, "It is. Second only to Juvia's love for Gray." Levy groaned as she slammed her head against the table softly. She couldn't believe that she made her feelings so known that it seconded Juvia. Juvia!
"Levy," the blue haired mage looked up at Lucy, "just ask Gajeel to come with you on some errands today. It's won't be an official date or whatever. But just take him out and see how he acts without all of us around. And, who know? Maybe he really is the one leaving you new books."
The petite woman nodded at her best friend's logic. It won't be a date-date, but more like when she and Lucy went out together to help each other with errands. Nothing fancy or special. "And speak of the Devil and the Devil shall appear. There's Gajeel and he's alone." Levy turned her head to where Cana was pointing. She was right- Levy couldn't see Pantherlily and none of the other dragon slayers were around Gajeel as he sat at the bar, eating.
Gathering up her courage and her things, Levy quickly, as to not lose this chance, walked up to the guitar player. "Um, Gajeel?" He looked up at her, a piece of steel pipe hanging out from the corner of his mouth, with curious red eyes. He finished eating what he had in his mouth before grumbling, "What?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to help me with some errands today. If you weren't busy or anything?"
A moment of silence passed between them, with Gajeel staring at her with blank eyes. Levy could feel sweat starting to lightly trail down the back of her neck. "Ok." The break of silence took her off guard and it took a minute for her to wrap her head around what Gajeel just said.
"Ok?"
A scowl made its way onto Gajeel's face before he stood up, his height towering over her- one of the reasons why she fell in love with him. There was something about his towering height that sets him apart from other men, something that made her feel protected.
"Come on, Shrimp. We don't have all day." Levy sprinted to catch up with man as he almost left the guild without her. Something told Levy that this wouldn't be a normal day.