Damn. That was a waste of a day. Those brats were harder to teach than I'd thought. It's not that they weren't trying, but I couldn't get them to understand how to read. To be honest, I probably wasn't the best teacher on that subject. Dad had taught me how, and I enjoyed reading, but I guess that didn't mean I could teach others.

I sat down on a low wall that ran around a park in the city, and rested my head in my hands. "I guess words ain't easy to learn." I muttered to myself. "U-um, Gajeel?" a small voice said from behind me. I turned to see a tiny bluenette sitting against a tree nearby. "Yeah Shrimp? Whatdya want?" She squeaked and blushed, putting her head down a little.

"I'm sorry, no- it's nothing. Never mind." She started piling up the books she had around her, and stood to leave. The stack was almost half her height, which isn't all that tall, really, but it was more books than she could comfortably manage. I sighed and flipped around on the wall, then walked over to take most of the books.

"Where're we going with this mess, Tiny?" I asked. Her face had taken on an interesting shade of red, and I chuckled, though I looked away to save her a little embarrassment at least. "I can carry my own books!" She stated with a little venom in her voice. Maybe some of that red had been anger? Huh, that's a new one from her. I raised an eyebrow at her and just waited.

"Fine!" she huffed. "You can carry those to Fairy Hills, just up the road this way." With the last words she turned, walking away. Gihi, yeah, anger's new from her. It's kinda cute. I realized I was grinning and quickly scowled before she saw. It was nice to not see fear in her eyes. I let myself drop a little behind her, though that was difficult since my legs are so much longer than hers. The view was worth it though.

*********************
"It's so nice today, I'm going to go read in the park!" I told Mira after I finished my breakfast, and walked out of the guildhall. Jet and Droy had left for a job earlier, and I hadn't felt like going. It was too pretty out to work today! I went to the library and borrowed several books that I'd been wanting to read. I took them to the closest park, and sat against a tree to read.

I heard people walking down the street nearby, but never looked up. I get like that when I'm reading. Jet whines about it sometimes, but Droy's always said he thinks it's funny.

I did become aware when someone sat on the wall near my tree. I looked up and saw Gajeel, and he seemed upset about something. He didn't scare me as much as he used to, after everything he did in the fight against Laxus. I felt my face flush as I remembered him putting himself between me and danger. Again. I was debating saying something to him when I heard him mutter, "I guess words ain't easy to learn." Was he trying to learn to read? But, he read job sheets, didn't he? "U-um, Gajeel?" I heard myself saying. He whipped around like he was startled, his piercing red eyes locking onto me. "Yeah Shrimp? Whatdya want?" I squeaked, and ducked my head down to hide the blush I felt returning to my cheeks.

"I'm sorry, no- it's nothing. Never mind." I started piling up my books to leave. Was I really just going to offer to teach him? The stack seemed bigger than when I got here, and I struggled to get them all into my arms. Why do I feel so flustered? I heard Gajeel sigh, and then his muscular arms were in front of me, taking all but two of my books. He's so strong, it's like my books weigh nothing! I know exactly how heavy they are, but to Gajeel they seemed to take as much effort to carry as a piece of paper.

"Where're we going with this mess, Tiny?" He asked me, one of his pierced eyebrows raised. TINY?! I'm not THAT small! "I can carry my own books!" I snapped at him, although I managed to not stomp my foot. He just kept his eyebrow raised and looked at me.

"Fine!" I huffed. "You can carry those to Fairy Hills, just up the road this way." Before I'd finished speaking, I spun on my heel and started storming towards my home. He had seemed amused about something, but I didn't feel like finding it what. Somehow I stayed ahead of him, even though I usually have issues keeping up with people who are that much taller than me. Maybe he's being nice?

As we walked along, I took a few full steps to even out with the shrimp. Wouldn't want her to catch me admiring her...assets. I skimmed the titles of the pile of books I carried, being careful not to drop them. "That's quite the variety of books ya got here, Shrimp."

Her shoulders tensed when I called her that, but she didn't say anything about it, making me want to laugh. "Well, I'm interested in everything, so that's what I read about. Do you even read? I mean- that is- I mean-" she trailed off, muttering something about not trying to imply that I couldn't read. I stopped walking and looked at her for a minute, deciding if I was going to mess with her or not. "What, ya think I'm too dumb t' read? Screws-for-brains Gajeel?" Every word made her blush deepen. "No! I never said that! You just seem to be more of a physical type person!" She looked sharply at me as I started to laugh. "Oh man, Shrimp. You should see yer face. I'm just messin' with ya. Yer not the first person to think there's nothin goin' on upstairs."

That didn't seem to make her any happier, "How are you okay with that? I'd hate for people to think I was stupid." She slapped her hand over her mouth, thinking she'd insulted me again. I just threw my head back and laughed harder.

"No! I never said that! You just seem to be more of a physical type person!" Gajeel started to laugh, a deep rumbling sound. I looked up at him, surprised he didn't seem to be angry. "Oh man, Shrimp. You should see yer face. I'm just messin' with ya. Yer not the first person to think there's nothin goin' on upstairs." No! That's not what I meant at all! I was so frustrated with myself. Usually I'm so good with my words!

"How are you okay with that? I'd hate for people to think I was stupid." I could have bitten out my tongue, I was so embarrassed! I'd done it again! To my surprise, Gajeel just laughed harder. There was a funny warm feeling settling into my chest at the sound. "Um, can we just start this conversation over again?" I looked at the books in his arms, unable to bring myself to meet those ruby eyes.

"Gihi," he choked off his laughter. "Sure, Tiny. So... That's quite the variety of books ya got here..." I could hear the laugh still hiding in his words. I huffed at the nickname, "Well, I'm interested in everything, so that's what I read about. What do you like to read?" That almost did him in again, and I heard a snort as he started to answer.

"I don't read..."

*******************
Damn, she's adorable all flustered like that. Wait, what? The tiny bluenette was staring at me laughing at her, so I swallowed the chuckle that almost escaped as we repeated the beginning of our conversation. She rephrased her question about my reading habits, and it was so polite I just couldn't help it anymore. I did try. Kind of. I snorted out a laugh as I replied, "I don't read." The heat from her glare put me over the edge, and I started laughing again. She gave me up as a lost cause, and started stomping up the road again.

*******************
I whirled around before he could see my grin, and started stomping up the road towards my home again. He's teasing me! Who knew there was such a gentle side to Gajeel? I knew he wasn't as mean as he tries to act, but this is...unexpected. Well, two can play that game. I didn't want to be completely evil so I wouldn't use tears as a weapon, but I was not without my tricks. I'd used them before to get my team to behave. They might work on Gajeel, too...