Lovely Mannerisms
"Lucy." Levy growled out with an irritated smirk as the blonde woman accidentally—purposely—spilled a glass of water on her lap as they sat beside each other at the bar. "The least you could do is to get me a towel, eh?" She said, and from the nonchalant looks of the blonde, it didn't seem like any fucks were given.
"Ohoho, Levy. I don't see any towel in my reach so you're gonna have to get it yourself." Lucy taunted, much to Mirajane's disconcert. "I heard you dressed beautifully yesterday and attended Jellal's party. Must have been lots of fun." She said sarcastically, putting emphasis on 'lots'. She cackled. "Damn, I missed it. I would have taken a picture."
"Shut the fuck up, Lucy." Levy said, agitated. She did not want to remember yesterday. She did not want to remember the dress, the heat, the Woods, and the Informant. She did not want to remember his eyes, his smile, his voice, his body—
"You should have seen her, Lucy, she was blushing after Gajeel gave a compliment." Mirajane said, to Levy's annoyance. Mirajane was giggling, unafraid of experiencing Levy's wrath. After all, no one was more frightening than Mirajane.
"Oh?" Lucy perked up. "So you've got your eyes on Gajeel, huh?" She gave another cackle.
Levy slapped her hands on the table and stood. She gave a monstrously frightening smirk at Lucy and Mirajane, and it seemed as though a demon had possessed her. "The day I lay my eyes on a fucking man is never." She hissed. Then she looked down at Lucy haughtily. "But I know you're completely smitten by that weak ass Natsu, ain't you, Lucy? Don't deny it." Lucy had a faint blush on her cheeks while this time, Levy cackled, leaving the guild with a mission in her hand.
It's time for work, and nothing else.
Women of Fairy Tail were known to be brash and fearless of many things, with the exception of a few such as Cana. Levy was not the exception. Since the guild moved itself into the city, Levy has been to every part of the city and she knew every nook and cranny of the area. So it wasn't tough to find the rundown old pub that the mission required her to be. The sign of the pub—Dun's Pub—was leaning against the wall when it should have been hanging on the pole that was next to it. A staircase led underground, where the pub was, no doubt. Levy walked down the stairs and headed to the bar, passing by old men in their drunken stupor, cheering incoherent words. The smell of alcohol didn't disgust her, but if she could avoid going to these places, she would gladly.
Looking at the bartender, she looked up at a lanky, yet stern looking man in his mid thirties. She held up the piece of paper which she grabbed from the mission request board. "I'm here for this small errand that is needed." She flashed a smile. The reason why she took the mission was because it wrote a good pay for a job that was described as 'small errand; females only'. So what was there to lose?
The bartender broke into an amused smile. "Follow me." He said softly, and had she not been leaning over the counter, she wouldn't have heard his voice over the loud cheers and clinks of mugs from the crowd.
He led her to a small room, which looked rather clean for an old pub. It wasn't a storage room either. The bartender led her inside and he followed after her, closing the door. She turned around, expecting an explanation. "We're having a little game tonight." He said. She nodded, urging him to go on. "We have a host." Levy placed her arms across her chest. This guy sure takes his sweet time explaining things. She raised her eyebrow at him. "Your job is this," He opened a small closet and took out a little outfit.
Levy nearly died of shock, looking at a sexy bunny costume. "Really?" She asked him, deadpanned. "Good Edolas, don't play tricks on me. I've done it once, and now I have to do it again?" She yelled to the skies, earning a quizzical look from the bartender. "No, really? I have to wear this?"
He nodded. "Just wear it, hold the draw box and act pretty. Nothing to it. However…" He gave a small pause. "What you see here does not leave the place. In other words, keep things a secret."
Levy groaned, thinking nothing of what he said. "What's with my fucking luck nowadays?" She asked herself as she grabbed the costume. "Get the fuck out. You better get this over with quick." She said as he left with a chuckle.
Levy looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was a black bustier, and her legs were covered with a netted stocking. She placed the bunny ears on her head. She grinned. "I'm not into these, but I don't look all that bad." She did a few sexy poses. "Yeah, pretty fucking sexy." She walked out of the room to meet the bartender.
"Good. We're starting." The bartender told a man, wearing a black button up shirt tucked into his pants, and Levy guessed he is the host. The host looked at her, his eyes travelling downwards and back up again. Levy raised an eyebrow and looked pissed. The host smirked as he got onto a small stage. "Does everyone have their numbers?" He asked the crowd, effectively catching their attention. There were cheers of approval which answered his question. "Alright then. Let us start!"
Levy got on stage holding the box, with a fake smile plastered on her face. The moment she stepped on stage, lecherous looks were given her way, and she was not oblivious to it. She wasn't the kind of person who puddle at her feet when in love, but the prospect of love was nice. But these guys, she grimaced inwardly, simply wanted to get into her pants.
She rigidly held the box in her hand as the host placed his hand inside to pull out a number. After calling out number after number, and a man shouts in joy of getting all numbers correct on his ticket. The crowd has mixed responses. Some cheered, while other shouted in gloom. The curtains behind Levy and the host opened, revealing a large cage.
A large cage, in which a woman was kept, undoubtedly against her wishes and she was blindfolded, handcuffed, and gagged. Levy's eyes widened in shock, dropping the box as she stared at the woman who is caught in the cage. "What…game is this?" She asked, when the host laughed.
"Well done, she's all yours, good man!" He said as the crowd cheered again.
And just then, a loud crash was heard from the back. The crowd got up, startled, and a group of men appeared. "Everyone freeze! We're closing down this pub." The leader of the men said, and they all held guns.
"The police?" Levy whispered as she spotted the bartender being handcuffed and hauled out of the pub. One police officer appeared and tried to handcuff her, when she pulled back. "Hey, I'm not part of this!" She said, but it made no meaning to him. Handcuffing her, she was dragged to the police station. She decided to keep her mouth shut, just until they start interrogating her.
She was left waiting in the station for nearly two hours, handcuffs still on her, when a familiar person appeared in front of her. "You're free to go," He said.
"Why is the Informant telling me that?" She asked, sitting with her legs crossed over the other.
"Precisely because I am an informant." Gajeel chuckled. "I was there, and I cleared up the misunderstanding they had of you." He explained, and a police officer unlocked her handcuffs. She rubbed her wrists. Gajeel offered his hand to her. "Are you alright?"
Levy stood on her own, ignoring the hand he offered to her. "Why ask that now?" She said rather than asked. She walked out of the station, and turned left. And then she felt a small weight on her. It was a blazer. Gajeel had slipped out of his blazer and placed it on her. She turned around and handed it back to him. "I don't need it."
"It makes me feel secure knowing you have it." He said with a smile.
She sighed. "There you go again with your damn chivalry. Don't you know that I—"
She was cut short when she felt him turn her around, placing the blazer on her again, and push her gently forwards, making her walk. "Wh-What are you—"
"Yes, yes. You hate chivalry. You're capable of handling things on your own, and I'm well aware of that, as I've told you yesterday." He said with his hands still on her shoulders as she walked.
"Then why are you still doing this?" She asked irritatedly. She wanted his hands off her.
"Because I still want to show that I care." He said. "You can take this kindness as an act of chivalry, but I'll do it because I want to. Of course, you could very well throw the blazer to the ground and leave it there for me to pick up." He lifted his hands off her shoulder, and started to walk beside her.
Levy looked at the ground, as she tightened her grip on the blazer. He smiled. "That girl…is she alright?" She asked softly. Gajeel looked at her. "I had no idea this was the kind of 'game' they were playing. It's humiliating, and disgusting."
"It truly is," He said in agreement. "The girl has been returned to her parents. This has been happening in many places in the dark areas of the city. I've been writing about them." He explained, and Levy fell silent. He wondered what was on her mind. "What's wrong?"
Levy stared straight ahead, her expression nearly emotionless. But Gajeel could see from her eyes that she was sad. "Are you helping in finding these girls?" She asked, ignoring the question he asked. There was a slight pause before he started to speak.
"Well, I am but only a writer, yet I am writing this to let the people know about these terrible things that happen. So I'd like to think that I am helping in some way."
"That's good," She said softly, and then stopped. She felt as though she was getting dangerously closer to this man, and that would be a bad idea. "Well, go on with your work." She handed his blazer back to him. "I'm fine walking back alone."
He shook his head, placing the blazer on her for the third time. "If you're uncomfortable with me, then I will leave. But wear this at least. It's a cold night, and I'd feel dismayed if anyone saw you in this clothing." He said.
She gritted her teeth. "There's nothing wrong with people seeing me in this if I'm alright with it." She said. But he shook his head once again.
"I'd feel dismayed if any more men saw you in this costume, and I'd like to say that I would be the last person to see you in this costume." He grinned as she started to feel a warmth rise up in her cheeks. "Then, till next time, Levy." He tipped his hat as he turned around walked the opposite way.
Levy clenched her fists as she resumed in walking back home. "Hmph, this blazer reeks of him." She muttered as she pulled it closer around her.
Levy came to the guild the next morning and had her breakfast. She looked at Mirajane, who noticed her gaze and smiled sweetly at her. "Yes, Levy?" She asked gently.
"If that Informant comes here, let me know. I have to return him something." She said, to Mirajane's amusement.
"Levy," Mirajane said with an amused tone, making the blue haired girl look at the barmaid. "He's here."
Levy was about to turn around to see him, but she was at eye level with his hips as he stood right in front of her. "Good morning, Levy." He said cheerily, and looked slightly surprised when he was looking down at a blushing girl who looked up at him with slightly widened eyes. She looked embarrassed, and awkward. He looked at her quizzically. "Is something the matter?"
"No, of course not, idiot." She said defensively, getting out of her seat. "Anyway, I have to return your blazer." She said as she started to walk out of the guild and towards her house.
"Oh, yes. And I would like to request for your help once again." He said with a smile as he followed her, watching her blue locks of hair sway as she walked, and keeping himself in check in preventing his eyes from travelling lower. Mirajane watched the two leave with twinkling eyes; she would have to keep an eye on them from now on.
Levy and Gajeel stood before a small plain looking house. Levy unlocked the door and pushed it open, and she held the door open for him to enter. He gave a small smile at her and entered, looking around the living room. "Hold on, I'll get your blazer." She said as she padded into her bedroom. He noticed that everything was neatly placed, but there were not a lot of things in the house. Not even decorations, except for a small dove ornament. He walked towards it and picked it up. It fit just in the palm of his hand.
"Put that down." Levy's voice startled him, nearly making him drop it. She sounded upset. He placed it down as she demanded him to, and he looked quizzically at her. "Here," She shoved the blazer at him, and he hung it on his arm. She was aware of the curious look her gave her regarding the ornament. "It's not any of your fucking business." She said. "Don't go snooping around people's things."
He gave an apologetic look. "My deepest apologies, I didn't intend to upset you." He said.
She waved her hand dismissively, willing to forget about it. Gajeel did, however, notice that she must have some unwelcoming memory about the ornament. There was something important about it for her.
"So, what's the thing you wanna talk about?" She asked.
He grinned. "A job which involves underground transactions, possible brawls and perhaps we'll even find something interesting along the way." He said. "Of course, you will be rewarded reasonably."
"Oh?" She smirked.
"However, it is dangerous." He warned lightly.
"Oh, fuck that. Count me in." She grinned.
Notes:
What could this job be? *Insert suspenseful music*
Yes, I know this chapter was dark, with the underground transaction. I also quite enjoy writing about these different situations between Levy and Gajeel with Levy cosplaying.
I'm also wondering whether these chapters are too short for you. Is it? It doesn't look like a lot when I look at the previews, but I could say that they're just right, unless you think otherwise.
Also, there's the underline function in the Edit/Preview Document toolbar but it never works. Why is it even there if it doesn't work?
