AN: To those who read Fighting Redfox to its satisfying end, thank you! It means a lot. I'm glad that you all enjoyed the story I shared with you! This is another Gajevy multi-chapter story for you! I hope you like it as much as FR!
Storyline: [AU] He's a cop who's had a rough few years. She's an out-of-towner with baggage she wished she could shake. Both have a past they'd rather not talk about. They must save each other from themselves to rediscover what had once given their lives meaning. All while danger hovers. Love and acceptance are only words until proven with action. [Two Plot Convergence] [Crime drama, lemons]
*Rated Mature - There is language and violence, some lemon as well.
*I do not own any of the media.
*I do not own any of FairyTail - that's all Hiro Mashima.
What About Now
A Gajevy Fanfiction
By CapAleran2
CHAPTER 1 - By Fate
"You ever gonna stop chewin'? That stuff rots your teeth, ya know." Gajeel voiced nonchalantly from behind the wheel, glancing up at the rear view mirror.
Beside him, his patrol partner scoffed while he flicked his Copenhagen can in the air. "How about you shut up. You're as bad as my mother."
The corners of Gajeel's lips turned up and he said, "Hey, I'm sure she appreciates the effort."
He turned the Dodge Charger into a gas station lot and threw the gear into park by an open pump near the front. Touching his belt before swinging the metal door shut, Gajeel walked inside the building to prepay for a fill up. In line behind a woman with a baby, he casually glanced out at the parking lot.
Crawford was a small town, only three stop lights. Nothing major ever went down within the county. Every day was fairly slow except for the routine traffic stops, occasional accident, and out of towners. There was one grocery business, an impressive library, a handful of banks and service stations, and a few restaurants. In the center of the town was a large courthouse. Gajeel had always considered peaceful Crawford his home and was content to live there for the rest of his life.
A brown Buick turned into the lot, taking up a space at the furthest pump. Gajeel stared. It looked as though the driver was arguing with his young passenger. He checked his watch. 3:51pm. The local school had been let out for almost forty-five minutes.
He paid with a card and then made his way back to his patrol vehicle and began to fill the car's tank. The radio on his black uniformed shoulder crackled to life.
A thumb pressed the button on the side and he turned his head to speak into it. "Go ahead."
"What's your ten?"
"10-42."
Laxus peered towards the driver's side from the passenger seat. "What about break?"
"Negative. Dispatch for Signal 54A." The voice rattled off a destination.
Gajeel nodded and pressed his thumb to the radio. "10-4. Officer enroute."
He let the tank fill, hung up the pump and slid into the car, pulling his sunglasses from his forehead down to his eyes. "Sorry, break has to wait."
"Apparently..." Laxus grumbled, his bottom lip fattened by the dip now wedged in.
They traveled towards the destination on a state road, the address typed up on the car's computer. It led them to a long open drive connected to a small ranch house. There were two barns behind the brick house and a shed by the garage. A fence extended along one side of the gravel drive. Beside the house sat a red Cavalier.
"I've driven past this place before, but the owner has a Chevy pickup." Gajeel commented as he turned off the road into the gravel. Guiding cautiously down the drive, his eyes narrowed.
"Who called it in?" Laxus asked.
"The house across the road."
The patrol car parked several yards from the red vehicle and Gajeel thumbed his radio. "Dispatch, Redfox on scene for Signal 54A."
"10-4."
Gajeel turned to his partner, pointing to their patrol vehicle. "Watch the car."
He looked around the property as he walked forward, but aside from the Cavalier, saw no evidence of anyone else there. It could just be abandoned, though usually if it was a Signal 1A, the persons would have left it on the side of the road and called for assistance, even AAA. Not turn into someone's home just to leave.
The pickup that was usually seen here was gone and Gajeel knew not to knock on the ranch house's door. Instead, he glanced towards the offending vehicle.
Careful not to touch anything but the back bumper, he peered into the driver's side window. The keys were gone and a water bottle was in the cup holder. An IPod was still connected to a cable on the middle console. An orange backpack and a laundry basket full of folded clothes were on the back seats.
Gajeel frowned.
A male would not have pink clothing. Nor would the clothing be folded.
He turned towards the patrol car and made a face before looking back in the window. Laxus raised his sunglasses to the top of his head and opened the car door.
"Hey! What's going on?" A voice called out.
Gajeel looked up in the direction of the barns. A young woman marched towards them, dressed in jean shorts and a T-shirt. Her blue hair was pulled back into a messy tail and wisps of loose hair flew around her face. She stared at the car and then up at the officers.
"Is this your vehicle, miss?" Gajeel asked, pointing to the obvious.
"Yes, why?" She brushed stray hairs from her face. Confusion was clear in her tone.
"We received a call about a suspicious automobile. Do you have your registration?"
The woman let out a huff and crossed her arms. "Is this David's way of welcoming people to his home? Having the cops called on them? I just drove across the state to work with his horse. He's my cousin, I'm staying with him for the time I'm here."
Laxus smiled and slowly shook his head, turning a one-eighty back to the Charger. He pulled his sunglasses back down and calmly radioed in the situation.
"That's nice of you, but do you have your registration and proof of insurance? Please." Gajeel added, his lips turning up into a coaxing grin. He mirrored her, crossing his muscled arms over his chest as he waited.
"Yea sure." The young woman promptly opened her car door and leaned in to reach the glove box.
Gajeel tried to keep his eyes on the car and not on her jean shorts. They traveled down to her exposed legs and further to her worn out Ariat boots. She produced the papers, handing them over and stood in place while he left to check the information on the computer.
Once sitting in the driver's seat to begin running the plate, Laxus took the papers, his eyes scanning over the print. "Well now, isn't that nice."
"What is?" Gajeel gave a monotone reply as he worked. He ignored his partner's stare.
"She's a single, twenty-three year old, out of towner. And good lookin'." He said with a playful tone and carefully spit into a pop bottle. The black tobacco spittle slid down the inside to collect on the bottom.
"How do you know she's single? She could just be independent."
"Because it says her maiden name is McGarden. And her registration and license say McGarden. Levy McGarden. See, right there." Laxus said and pointed to the name, bringing it close to Gajeel's face.
"Alright, I got it..." Gajeel growled. He stared at her from behind his sunglasses.
Levy sat on the hood of her car with her hands under her legs. She looked young. And Laxus wasn't wrong when he was she was good looking. Her blue hair was in between straight and curly at the same time, and it curled around her face, bringing attention to her large, brown eyes.
Gajeel pulled his gaze away from her and gathered up her papers. He swung out of the seat and Laxus called to him, "Go get 'em…"
"Stay." Gajeel firmly stated, his finger pointing at his partner. He ignored the blond man's attempt to fluster him.
He approached Levy and she slid from the hood. She was short; her head came up to his chest on his six-foot frame, he noted. He casually handed back her belongings and laid a hand on his gun belt. "I'm sorry about the interruption, Miss."
"It's ok." Levy said, then murmured softly to herself, "I'm just going to get him back..."
"Your cousin owns the coffee shop in town, right?" Gajeel suddenly asked, taking Levy by surprise.
"Um. Yea, Dave's Cafe." She replied, using her hand to shield her eyes from the sun.
"Good place." Gajeel said with a small grin. He began to turn around. "You have a nice day."
Levy gave a fleeting flash of white teeth. "You too."
He glanced over his shoulder before reaching the Charger, seeing her still standing there and watching. Laxus rolled the window down and let his hand lay on the open space, his other hand holding the radio on his shoulder.
Gajeel started the car and threw it in reverse. In the rear view, he saw her walking back to the fence to give attention to the horse grazing near it. As she rubbed the horse's face, he saw that she watched the Crawford County patrol car brake at the top of the drive.
The Charger pulled out of the gravel, heading north towards town. A tan, beat up truck flew around the corner going south, oblivious to the patrol car and exceeding the forty mile per hour speed limit by a large margin.
"Here we go." Laxus said, flipping on the red and blue lights, the siren a few seconds later.
He held onto the handle above the window as Gajeel checked the road and maneuvered into a U-turn. The Charger immediately gave chase, bounding into similar speed, and Laxus called in the situation.
"Dispatch, we have a 10-80, southbound on US Ten. Tan Ford pickup. He's way over."
Gajeel chuckled, showing teeth as he stomped the accelerator. "So much for a lunch break."
Levy drove down the street, watching for the business' drive. In the small town strip, many people were out enjoying the sunshine or running errands. Several vehicles were parked in the wide parking lot directly in front of the cafe. Before she could open her door, a ringtone burst to life and the vibration caused the phone to buzz against the cup holder.
One look at the bright screen told her not to answer. That was one person she'd rather not talk to. Her stomach seemed to drop to her driver's seat and she swallowed, pushing the phone's lock button. The screen went black and she stuffed it into her back pocket. The set of keys dug into her palm as she walked towards her cousin's shop, squeezing the keys to release a bout of nervousness.
Levy looked around. There were no customers in line or seated in the small dining area and no one was behind the counter. "Hey David!" She called and leaned against the wooden counter, looking up at the menu on the back wall.
A blond haired man appeared in the doorway that led to the back rooms, wiping his hands with a towel. He smiled when he saw her.
"What do you want?" He asked playfully and tossed the towel on the counter.
"Nice, David. Real nice." Levy replied, trying to hide her grin.
"What?"
"You know what. Why did you send them to the house?"
David, now genuinely confused, crossed his arms over his green apron. "What? What happened?"
Levy frowned, pausing. "You didn't send two officers on me?"
"No, I've been here all day. Why would the police go out to my house?" He asked. He grabbed a glass and filled it with iced tea from a pitcher, then gave it to her.
Levy reached for it and murmured. "I don't know. They just came out to check on my car, since I'm from out of town I guess. It was nothing." She sipped from the glass.
"Well, I'm glad you're here. When did you get in?"
"A few hours ago. That gelding is a handsome boy." There was a touch of admiration in her voice as she commented on her cousin's new horse.
"Yea, he's a looker, but still shies away. I'm thinking the farm is still an adjustment for him." David replied casually.
A few customers walked in and sat down at a table. David went to wait on them, leaving Levy alone at the counter. She watched him work, taking their drink orders and striding past the front counter to fulfill their requests. A bell on the door rang, signaling another group of people walked into the cafe, followed by another few people.
The new customers sat down and waited as David finished with the beverages.
Levy noticed there were more people than David could comfortably manage on his own and immediately went behind the counter, grabbing an apron from beneath the register. However hard it was to smile around strangers now, she put one on and headed towards a table.
Gajeel lifted his sunglasses onto the top of his head as he walked through the doorway, holding the door open for Laxus. Quickly surveying the room, he turned his attention to the table before him. Once seated, he began to check his phone; he had had to leave two phone calls to voicemail and knew from the constant buzzing that he would have a few text messages to go through.
"You get any numbers in the last few days?" Laxus asked, gesturing to the phone with his eyes as he unfolded the menu on the tabletop.
"Nope." Gajeel curtly replied, still looking through his phone.
"You actively looking for numbers at least?"
"Laxus, I don't need it." Gajeel said with a huff. The first few times his badgering was amusing, but now after a few weeks it was becoming an annoyance. Certainly coming from him.
Laxus gave him a look and lowered his voice to just above a whisper. "Come on. You mope when you're off duty, don't deny it. You don't come with me when I go to the range or the gym like you used to. I know you man. You need to get on."
He was right, though Gajeel refused to acknowledge that fact. Laxus didn't know what it was like to walk around with it on his shoulders. Few men did. And even of those few, most didn't handle it as well as Gajeel. He had his days, but for the most part, he felt like he was finally on the mend.
He saw Dave walking to them and turned to Laxus. "Just shut it, ok?"
Laxus raised his hand slightly above the table in a surrender motion and turned to the waiter, his lips sliding off his teeth in a smile.
"Hey Dave. How's business goin' for ya?"
"Hello officers. With you two here now, it's great. Can I get you the usual?" Dave asked lightly, his pen ready in his hand.
Laxus leaned back in his chair. "Yes sir. And a beer."
Dave wrote it down, cocking an eyebrow as he looked down.
"He's the one driving today." Laxus pointed to Gajeel, who was still looking at his phone.
"Right. And for you?" Dave asked Gajeel patiently.
"Uh, I'll have what he's having. And Mountain Dew."
Dave looked curiously down at Gajeel, noting his unusual tendencies before leaving them with their orders.
Laxus kicked him under the table and in the process, bumped the table with his leg. The surface popped up and the silverware on it bounced. Unprepared for the action, Gajeel jerked, his thumb pressing send on an unfinished text message. "The hell?" He harshly voiced, keeping his voice lowered inside the business.
"Even Dave knows something's up. Get off your damn phone. It ain't like you got anyone pretty to talk to."
Gajeel glared at him, a curse on his tongue. He knew his partner was right, though his pride wouldn't let him put his phone away just yet. "Ok."
He finished his text message and out of spite, he then checked his email, though he knew there'd be nothing of importance other than the work schedule he had already received. Looking up, he saw Laxus watching the TV in the corner. He turned in his seat to see what was airing. A woman and a man on the screen were arguing over who knew what, as the volume was on mute.
"You into soap operas now?" Gajeel asked as a laugh struggled to break from his mouth.
"Who isn't these days." Laxus replied casually, leaning back with his arm thrown over the top of the chair beside him. "It's where I've gotten some of my lines."
"You? Watch day time soaps? I'd have never pegged you."
"I know what you're thinkin'. 'Sissy'. Well I'm not. I just happen to have a few sisters who watch it." Laxus said, his eyes darting to the screen.
Gajeel turned around to look at the TV again. The couple were now standing close and as the man grabbed the woman's arm, he spoke to her. She responded and then he leaned in, ducking his head to make a move.
Gajeel's stomach turned then and he straightened in his chair, his eyes coming to the place mat in front of him. It seemed like it hadn't been that long since, but the years hadn't taken the sting away. He resisted looking through his phone, which had become a crutch in the last years in awkward situations. Instead he opted to look out the large front windows.
The view outside was partially blocked by the row of cars right outside on the other side of the walkway. Behind the cars, the street was the buffer to the other side where the huge courthouse loomed. Green grass surrounded the stone building and a fountain spouted water on the corner by the intersection. He breathed in the sight, using it as a distraction.
His thoughts went back to the red car and its owner. He had been surprised to find it belong to such a pretty thing, not at all expecting that. But then that led to him thinking of the past few years. Well shit. Am I ever going to move past that?
"It gets better." Laxus said, looking at him. He seemed to understand where Gajeel was in his mind.
Not saying anything, he caved and checked his phone.
The waiter returned with their drinks and set them down on the table. Laxus narrowed his eyes as he caught a glimpse of one of the employees behind the counter. He didn't get a good look at her face, but her hair seemed familiar. As she moved out of his sight, he shrugged it off and sipped his beer.
Successfully pushing thoughts out of his mind, Gajeel took a swig of his soda. He felt better now. He had battled this for long enough. There was no sense in pining after something he couldn't have, nor will ever have again. He looked at his partner.
"What's your schedule look like?"
"Well next week I'm with Fernandez on the evening shift. Then I'm on mornings with Ewing, though I'm thinking I may switch with someone for nights. Somethin' about Ewing that pisses me off."
Gajeel smirked. "I think a lot of 'em feel that way. I don't mind her, but I get it."
"It ain't good. She'll talk your ear off about stupid shit. Last time it was about the insane prices of dog food." He made a choking sound and closed his eyes.
Knowing how that was, Gajeel nodded with a grin. There were some officers they got along with and some they tolerated. Driving around in a car for eight to twelve hours with someone you only barely tolerated was like hell. At least they don't have to live with them like the fire department.
A different employee came up with a round tray, their orders atop it. They stopped their conversation and moved their beverages. Laxus's smirk was present and Gajeel looked to see what it was about.
The girl held a shocked look on her face, almost dropping the tray. She stumbled over her words as her eyes settled on the two men. "S-sorry. I wasn't expecting you. Here, err… Now."
Gajeel gaped at the girl from the farm, his sunglasses falling from his forehead onto his nose. He quickly pulled them off and set them next to his drink. His mind worked flawlessly, not skipping a second and smiled. "Didn't I say we came here often?"
A blush could be seen on her face as she placed the baskets of food on the table in front of them. "Not in those words, exactly." She dug in the apron pocket for extra napkins, setting them down.
Gajeel shook his head once and noticed Laxus's smirk still stamped on his face, his arms now crossed.
"You working here now?" He asked.
"I wasn't going to, but I thought I'd help since I stopped in."
Gajeel didn't miss the way she glanced to him, swallowing as she nervously tucked the tray under her arm.
"So does that mean you're stayin' in town for a while?" Laxus was asking. A smirk was plastered there.
"I-I guess so. I'm here indefinitely." She smiled, backing up a few steps. "Uh, if you need anything else, just call."
When she left, Laxus couldn't wipe the expression from his mug. "Now that was a pleasant surprise. She's into you man."
Gajeel took a bite of his burger, nonchalantly speaking with his mouth full. "Whatever. She was just doing her job."
"…I don't know. There was a lot of nervousness thrown your way."
He chewed, still looking at Laxus. Women gave him interested glances all the time, and he'd always written it off, remembering that most women loved a 'man in uniform'. He wasn't interested in a one-time deal simply because of his occupation. What he had had before was love; he wasn't about to go back on his standards. If this Levy girl was interested, he hadn't picked up on it.
The thought occurred to him that maybe he hadn't picked up on it because she wasn't looking for that kind of one-time deal either?
He took a sip of his drink, not paying attention to what Laxus was saying. Maybe it was just him trying to lift his spirit and make him feel better. Most of the time he took him seriously, but when it came to relationship issues, he'd usually wave his suggestions away. Should he wave this one off, even though he didn't see what his partner did?
A few minutes later, the woman who occupied his thoughts came up to them again. "Is everything alright?"
Gajeel stirred from his thoughts as he shoved three fries into his mouth. "Hmm?"
"The food is great. As always." Laxus gave his signature smile.
Levy's lips turned up into a smile and for the first time today, Gajeel saw her give a genuinely beautiful smile. There he was stuffing his face, and couldn't even answer with all the food in his mouth. He mentally kicked himself.
"Good. I'll just leave this here. Not trying to get rid of ya though." She set their check on the table in between them. She glanced to Gajeel before she left, her eyes meeting his for a fleeting second. It was enough to make him cough, almost choking.
"Damn. You only see that in movies." Laxus commented happily with a light laugh, picking up the ticket.
Gajeel wiped his mouth with the napkin in his hand. "There was nothing to see. You're making shit up."
Laxus smirked. "Judging by your reaction just now, you know I'm right."
Gajeel turned around. She was at the register, cashing a customer out. When she turned to the counter, she looked up, her eyes finding that he was staring at her. Quickly turning away, she entered the back room, fleeing the scene.
Maybe.
"Go up there like you've got balls and talk to her. I'll sit right here. I ain't leavin', you got the keys."
Gajeel was half tempted to do just that. It was clear that she was interested, even without saying anything. But he shook his head. "Nah. If she's here next time."
Shrugging, Laxus downed the last of his beer. He shoved the ticket in his direction. "Then you're buyin'."
Grumbling to himself, Gajeel reluctantly pulled out his wallet and shelled out the money. He left a five and a few ones on the table for the tip. His partner raised his brow, but didn't say anything. There was another employee at the front and he went up to pay. Risking a glance, the back room entrance was empty. Oh well.
Laxus bumped his arm as they walked out of the cafe, laughing as he asked, "Hey, can I drive?"
"Ha ha." Gajeel pushed him away and they climbed in the car.
The sun was fading behind the horizon, the yellow rays turning orange and red. They had a few more hours until they headed back to the station and clocked out, but Gajeel knew his night would be better than the previous week.
Inside the establishment they had just left, Levy peeked out from behind the back entrance. The table was empty now, and she made her way to clear it and collect the tip. Her eyes scanned the surface and she expertly cleaned the area as if she'd been a full time employee. As she made her way back to the main counter, she saw the Charger back out of the parking space and take off. The corners of her lips slowly turned up and she bit her bottom lip.
