Chapter 2

The alarm sounded for the third time in the morning and Levy turned it off, making a great effort to get out of bed and start her day. Lucy had sent her a text last night, after helping her new neighbour to settle. It said that Levy should take one day off at work, what actually she really needed but couldn't afford to do.

Being exhausted was an understatement.

After showing Gajeel his apartment (one bedroom, a bathroom and a small kitchen connected to a living room, much like her own one) she stood exchanging a few words with him. Levy discovered that he was 22 years old as she had predicted, 2 years older than her, and he had gotten a job in a place near the port city of Hargeon, but didn't specify what he actually did there.

She couldn't reveal much information either way, because everything related to Fairy Tail was strictly confidential.

Levy stayed to help him unpack in a quiet silence, what he didn't resist.

She realized that he wasn't the chatty type, but he didn't look like a bad person. Although his appearance was very peculiar, and the first thing anyone would think is that he could be a criminal or fugitive, she didn't want to judge or have a bad relationship with him. Besides, coming to this town alone wasn't easy, and she felt a bit sorry for him. She also had to travel away from family and friends in the past, and knew it wasn't the most pleasant experience.

While finished dressing to go out into the corridor that led to Gajeel's apartment and, in her distraction, she almost stumbled with a black lump on the floor, which was right outside her door. Levy regained her foot after stumbling and looked back to meet ... a cat?

A black cat. Inwardly, she sighed. "What are you doing here? You are very cute, but you'll have problems if you stay long" she knelt to pet him, while in response the cat just purred.

"That's my cat" Gajeel said startling Levy: he apparently had heard the noise made when she encountered his partner while leaving.

Levy looked up at him, and blushed a little at his state: he was dressed simply with a pair of sweatpants and bare chested, which allowed her to appreciate his torso and muscles. It seemed that he had just woken up, a few strands of hair over his face. He must exercise often. She looked away, a bit embarrassed.

"Gajeel, pets aren't allowed in this building ..."

"Well" he replied as he knelt and grabbed the cat "I didn't know where I could leave him, I don't know a single person in Magnolia. It can be our little secret, right?" he whispered and smirked, showing his elongated teeth.

The form in which he said it did feel strange to Levy, almost in an intimate way. But she couldn't refuse, it was such a cute animal, and less if he was alone in the city. "Okay, but don't let him walk through the halls. If the people on the building see the cat, it won't be good"

"No problem. ¿Off to work?" he asked scanning her, noting the way she was dressed.

"Yes, the worst part is that I'm already late" Levy laughed a little. She looked at her watch and started to take steps towards the elevator, while saying goodbye with one hand " See you later Gajeel!"

He wasn't allowed with time to answer, so he sighed and entered the apartment, Lily in his arms. Gajeel looked at the cat while letting him go. "The hell are you doing here, Lily?"

"What a welcome. I'm your partner and I sensed you were going to have trouble approaching the girl. I only came to help"

"Just a few hours passed! I can't ask and find out all of it in one night. Also yesterday she didn't mention her real job"

"Well, take your time. Juvia is observing their work schedules and what she does, so try to get closer"

"Why can't we get the information by force?" He said clenching his fists. Lily sighed.

"No, you need to get everything and that isn't the best way to do it. And she seems like a good girl. Levy uh? Maybe she can stand you after all" Lily said as he dodged Gajeel who tried to grab him.

"Stupid cat"

"Lucy, Levy, how are you?" Gray waved as Levy entered the company with Lucy. He and Natsu were of the best agents there. It seemed that, unlike them, he was going out to work, especially looking at the way in which he was equipped. Dealing with contractors wasn't an easy task, and his life was put at risk every time he left.

"Hi Gray, a little tired" she offered him a smile.

"It seems she has a new sexy neighbour, and stayed up all night to help him" Lucy said, covering her mouth, smiling mischievously. She had the expected effect on her friend.

"Lu, it's not like that!" Levy was embarrassed. She had told her along the way to work about Gajeel and she was already assuming that kind of things?

Gray, knowing the two girls, only laughed.

"There's nothing wrong with that Levy"

"But it's not like that!"

"Well" Gray interrupted for a second; he didn't want to forget telling them about the news "Mirajane is waiting for you two in the top floor. It is something related to the research and a test subject. I am telling you before Mira kills me". He didn't want to upset the woman. She looked like a demon when she wanted.

Levy and Lucy stopped talking and got serious. Lately there were too many crimes and murders by different contractors. The characteristics of the deaths implied that it was a large group that had many people with various skills and powers.

They nodded and went to the floor where Mirajane and Erza were waiting with the test subject: Jellal.

He was lying on a stretcher, connected to various devices and waiting beside Erza for them.

Poor Erza, she never had left his side. His conversion had been only 2 months ago, so she knew him well before he became a contractor. She clung to his side, because being one of them meant being constantly sought by other organizations that might be dangerous, and as a result he ended in Fairy Tail. But that didn't matter to him at all.

Levy wanted to believe that he was only there for Erza, but the reality was that it was also the most convenient thing to do for him. At least he seemed to always wanting to go out to missions with her, and that gave her a little hope that Jellal would return to be the same way he was before.

"Girls, it's good you both came, we were about to start testing" Mira told them, ready to start. The room where the tests were done was designed perfectly for that, dealing with the ethernano particles without a problem…

10 years ago, a failed experiment in a research facility in Bosco created a new particle called ethernano, which filled the air after an explosion. Fairy Tail researchers suspected that a large concentration of these particles and strong emotional experiences linked to the person could be causing the changes and transformations. The fact of having experienced something traumatic and wanting to forget it, caused people lose that which made them human.

In the case of Jellal, he had a life full of lies and deceit, living in illegality. It hadn't been until he met Erza that he could find a different path…But that was too late.

"Jellal, we will ask you to use your powers, but please don't blow up the building" Lucy asked a bit nervous. Jellal was ranked as one of the most powerful ten contractors, and it wasn't the first time that he, Natsu or Erza did get invoices and payments to Fairy Tail for destruction to properties.

Levy came up with an artifact designed for it, ready to measure the levels of ethernano, while Lucy and Mira were watching from a considerable distance, almost hidden behind a table. "We are ready!" Of course they were...

Levy nodded, and a second after that she almost lost balance by the amount of force that Jellal's magic gave off. He used a power called Heavenly Body Magic, which allowed him to use properties of astronomical objects for battle.

The measure pointer was spinning non-stop and the place was a riot, papers flying everywhere and the lights flickering. Mira had to shout to make their voices be heard "All right! Now to stage two!"

Erza stiffened, and after the second part of the process was activated, it took only a minute for everything to stay calm and Jellal , agonizing in pain, fell to the ground.

Erza knew this could happen, and made the sign to stop the procedure "Jellal!"

"I'm fine, don't worry" he replied though clearly that was not true: he was pale, and needed her help to get up.

Lucy began to check his vital signs and immediately sent him to the infirmary with Erza. If with just one minute of exposure that had happened...

"I was afraid this would happen, it isn't good" Mira said sadly.

The second stage consisted on neutralizing the particles with anti-ethernano ones, but they didn't know what the effect would be in contractors and dolls. They had several theories, and it seems that the worst of all was true.

The first was that, by countering the particles, people could return to a normal life, without any risks. This was the objective of Fairy Tail: the indiscriminate killing of so many people was something they wanted to finish as soon as possible.

The second is that, although they could weaken for a long time, contractors would return to rebuild their levels of magic and it would be as if nothing had happened, only a small relapse. This theory was partly true, but the third option was the worst of all: it could bring the death of those people, and no one there wanted that.

But maybe other organizations would try to grasp that power.

Levy still believed in them and saw the good part of the deal. They needed to find the right way and not to be abused by people with more power. All of the contractors weren't the same in way, and humans that were far crueler and liars existed, without the need of being one of them.

She didn't want anyone else to die, human, doll or contractor.

If just a minute had that effect on Jellal, Levy didn't want to imagine what would happen if the whole ordeal was taken seriously. This information was something that mustn't fall into the wrong hands. She grabbed Lucy's and Mira's hands before they could leave, and said in a low tone, almost inaudible "What happened today… You don't have to talk with anyone about it. When Gildarts returns, we are going to tell him so he can help us".

"Cheer up! I feel the same way that you do, but we are going to move forward, and everything will be okay!" Lucy said as they walked back to their homes, coffee in hand. It was just before the snow starts to fall, and the sound of leaves under their footsteps was the only thing that could be heard in the night.

"I know Lu, but ... I don't want that it happens to someone else" Levy looked down thoughtfully "If something happened to you or to anyone in Fairy Tail, I don't know what I could do"

"You would be still working hard, as the strong and independent woman that you are. And no matter what happens to me, I would never cease to be your friend"

Levy couldn't help but smile: Lucy always knew how to lift her spirits up. The petite girl thought that maybe she could do something to brighten the weekend for Lucy as well. A sly smile was formed on her face.

"I have an idea. Tomorrow is Saturday, what do you think if we go to the bar that Mira's brothers own?" She will fall for it, I am sure.

"It's a good idea! I's been a while since the last time I saw Elfman and Lisanna. It's also karaoke night! And we could..." Lucy continued talking to herself, thinking what she should wear, and organizing all the night.

Levy was proud of herself; she only needed to invite Natsu and it would be perfect. Besides, she also needed to distract her mind a bit.

"Oh, you could invite your new neighbour! Gajeel, right?" she said giggling. Lucy now was the one who had control over the situation.

"What!? Do you think he will want to? He seemed very quiet ..." Levy asked a bit embarrassed. The truth was she had intentions of inviting the man after hearing that he was alone in the city. Maybe he would get along with the group of Fairy Tail.

"You don't lose anything trying, right?"

Maybe she is right…

They made plans to meet the next day, and continued chatting and laughing until it was time to part ways.

Levy sighed while she continued walking: Lucy always tried to find someone for her when actually Levy hadn't been too interested in it before.

"I can't wait to get home and take a warm, relaxing bath" she whispered to herself, humming as she walked the last block, stretching her body. And that's when she saw it: a person thrown on the pavement in a corner, near a corridor. And to her horror Levy quickly realized who he was.

"Gajeel!" she shouted as her legs started pumping towards him and she knelt. There was blood on the floor, and it could be seen he was hit in the face and along his body, torn clothes revealing a lot of scratches and wounds. She checked his pulse and after confirming that he was out of danger, Levy took off her coat to cover him a little more and to protect the man from the cold of the night. She felt fortunate to have done a first aid course during her high school years. They always came in handy.

"Gajeel, you hear me? Talk to me, please" she begged and touched his face, trying to shake his shoulders a bit without hurting him. She was alone in the street, at night, with a complete stranger that, despite his physical strength, had been beaten until unconsciousness. Why these things happened to her? "What should I do…"

Relax, Levy. Think. She took the phone from her pocket to call an ambulance; it was the coherent thing someone should do in such a situation. She continued asking herself what could have happened there.

But before a person could answer in the other side of the line, Gajeel took the phone with one hand and destroyed it. He broke it as if it was nothing, with only one hand.

Levy stood with her mouth open, gaping like a fish, surprised, angry, and scared. "What the…"

"Please, don't take me to a hospital" she heard Gajeel said forcefully, and when looking his way she saw that he was watching at her with a narrowed eye, wincing in pain. "Let's go to the apartment"

Levy couldn't contain her reaction "Are you serious? You're badly hurt! And it wasn't necessary to destroy my phone! What happened? How ...?"

But before she could finish talking, he was unconscious again. Dammit!

Second chapter up! I wanted to write more Gajevy, and I plan on writing Gruvia, but I had to explain a part of the story first. I hope everyone understands what is going on with all this deal about contractors, humans and dolls, or it's confusing? And I hope you liked it! Who attacked Gajeel?

Heatherlnd: thank you so much!

DeadmanSteadman: your comment made my day, thanks!

Thanks for the feedback :)