Well here it is! Chapter #2 Yes I do realize that it is nearly 2am, but it's still friday, so it counts. I was just really eager to get this updated! I reall am having too much funn with this! haha Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Worthy

He was sitting at the bar glaring at his drink in front of him. It had been a few days since he had joined Fairy Tail. He could feel the occasional glare on his back, sometimes catching a hushed word or two about him from someone hunched over towards their neighbor. He didn't care, they would get over it eventually, not that he though any of them would trust him, but maybe people would be a little more accepting of his presence. He huffed and rapped his knuckles on the bar, tell the bar maid Mira he wanted a refill. She frowned at the rude gesture, but complied nonetheless. She had started worming up to him, greeting him when she saw him around the guild, she even had started collecting a small amount of iron for him that she presented to him whenever he was at the bar. He was a bit suppressed at the gestures, but always mumbled his thanks when she placed the iron in front of him.

He had been exploring his new home, the guild, the town, the land around Magnolia. He wanted to be away from the guild as much as possible until people calmed down some, that and he was determined to find a place of his own so that he didn't have to be there much at all. The problem with that was he didn't have any money, and he flat out refused anything that the master offered him, he didn't need charity.

It was sheer dumb luck that Juiva had returned from a mission on his first official day as a Fairy Tail member. She was overly excited to see Gajeel, nearly knocking him over when she tackled him with a hug squealing his name at the top of her lungs. Not only was the affectionate act embarrassing, but every member in the guild stared at the two newest mages with surprise mingled with degust. He had reluctantly allowed her to show him around the guild hall, and to invite him along the next time she went on a mission. This wasn't going to happen Gajeel figured, as Juvia seemed to be presently attached to that Ice Wizard, who gave Gajeel an untrusting look whenever they were near each other. Gajeel strictly doubted that he would be asked to accompany anyone on a mission with them, and he wouldn't take anyone either. He preferred to fight alone, and until these damn feelings became so strong, he preferred to be alone in every aspect.

Finishing the last of his drink, Gajeel stood and nodded at Mira, indicating that he was finished, and stalked to the request board. After scanning the board for a few seconds he grabbed a job that required catching some bandits at a small town a day's walk from Magnolia. He really needed to hit something right now, his favorite way of eliminating his frustrations, and the pay was good, 100,000 jewels. He brought the paper to Mira.

"I'm glad to see that you've started taking on some missions Gajeel." She said with a smile, as she processed his requested mission.

"'Tis better than bein' held up here" He grumbled back, glancing around, a few people quickly turned away from him, pretending as though they hadn't been looking, glaring, his direction.

"Give them some time Gajeel… they'll get over it soon enough." Mira's voice was soft so that only he could hear, as she handed the paper back to Gajeel. He grunted as he took the paper and headed for the door, raising his hand over his head as a parting gesture.

As he was reaching for the door, it suddenly forcibly swung open, smacking him directly in the face and causing him to stumble backwards a few steps holding his face.

"Oi! Wa'it dam'mint!" The Iron Dragon, clutching at his nose and feeling blood dribble over his lips, opened his eyes to see who had assaulted him with the door. His eyes narrowed at the person in front of him, "Sol'amon'der!"

"Oops, sorry metal head, didn't see ya' there hehe."

"Natsu!" It was the blond haired chick that scolded the fire dragon for his comment.

"Wha'd ya' call me fiwre fwace?!" Gajeel roared back, forgetting about the pain in his nose, or the blood that splattered on the ground, momentarily.

"How could ya' even feel the door huh?! Your heads so thick I's surprised you felt anything! Or are ya' rusting out? Hmm Rusty?" Natsu teased the older dragon.

"Now yer makin' me mad flame brain! Ye' bo'tter watch whaaat yer sayn' or I'll hawve to suhut that ma'outh o'yers." Gajeel and Natsu were glaring at each other little flashes of lighting zapping between their eyes as the growled and postured and spit comments back and forth.

They were interrupted by Erza, who placed a hand on each man's forehead and forcibly pushed the two dragons apart, easily dodging the little droplets of blood still coming from Gajeels nose. "Now boys. That is no way to behave. Natsu, apologize for smacking Gajeel with the door."

"Wha?! No way! He was the one stupid enough to walk into it! Why should I have to apologize?"

Erza's glare was stone cold, making Natsu pale and quiver under her gaze.

Geeze, Gajeel thought, and I thought I looked scary…

Even in his fear Natsu refused, opting instead to escape the situation entirely, "…. Hey Gray! Can't ya' keep your clothes on for five minutes or do you enjoy showing everyone your skinny ass?!"

Natsu darted away from the door as Erza, Gajeel, Lucy and Happy stared after him, ducking quickly when a blast of ice crystals was shot their way with a, "what'dya' say you pink haired freak?!" obviously aimed at the Fire Dragon who dodged them all too easily. With this, a brawl between the opposing elements began, something Gajeel had learned was nothing out of the ordinary. Glancing back at the two woman standing next to him he was slightly surprised when the red head, Erza, turned to him.

"Gajeel, you are bleeding something terrible, here" she produced a white handkerchief seemingly from thin air and offered it to him. He stared at her blank expression then at the cloth, then back at her. She raised an eye brow and Gajeel remembered the look she had just given Natus. Not wanting the same look directed at him, he snatched it from her hand and held it to his nose.

"Are you headed out on a mission?"

He stared for a moment. First the handkerchief, now she was talking to him? "Nahh… just wanting to readjust my nose with the door…Wha'dya think Titania…" He drawled sarcastically dabbing at the blood on his chin, his tongue removing the redness from his lips with a smack.

Erza's eyes narrowed slightly, "Well… good luck anyway. Gajeel." She walked past him into the guild, his eyes following her for a few strides before snapping back to the blond who hadn't moved yet.

"Wha'cha looking at Blondie?"

She squeaked and scurried after Erza. Gajeel humphed, "Bunch o'stupid fucking farries…." He muttered to himself. He glanced at Salamander and the Ice guy, Gray was it, who were in an all-out hair pulling, finger biting, and shin kicking tantrum. He turned and shrugged out of the guild, leaving the door open as he left. Glancing at the sun he decided that he could make the next train if left now. He stalked off toward the train station, all he really wanted right now was to get out and beat some faces in. Salamanders would have done nicely – he owed him a pounding from their last fight – but he decided to be a baby and run from the Iron Dragon. Whatever he'd have is fight with the fire brat soon enough.

The mission Gajeel had taken was easier than he had thought. He thoroughly enjoyed beating in the faces of the would-be bandits, they weren't much of a fight, but he did feel better. He had decided to walk back to Fairy Tail, partly because he was finding that he really heated trains, and partly because some part of him didn't want to return to the guild just yet.

As magnolia came into sight as he topped the last hill, he heard a familiar voice off to his right. He froze. There on path to the right of him that lead to Magnolias docks, was team Shadowgear. The two boys were tattered and dragging their feet as if exhausted, they whined about something or another to their leader, the one who still haunted Gajeel's dreams. The one person he really didn't want to see right now.

She wore am orange long sleeve dress that came just past her buttocks, a matching head band held her wavy blue locks back from her face, her thin legs were adorn with black thigh high leggings that tucked into red boots. She was also a little tattered, there were spots in her hair that looked as if they had come in contact with oil or grease, there was a tear in her dress at the shoulder and her front was dirty. She was walking with her eyes closed, nose in the air and finger wagging at the two dogs padding behind her, obviously scolding them. Gajeel couldn't help but remember the first time he had seen the trio, the night he had attacked them. The picture was much the same as to the one in front of him now. Yet it was so different in so many ways. He shook his head trying to clear the memory of that night. He focused instead on what he should do, he was far enough away that he could escape without them noticing him, or he could continue and they would meet at the fork in the road where their respective paths met and joined into one as it headed down the far side of the hill to Magnolia.

He wasn't given any more time to decide, as one of the girls' 'dogs' looked up and caught sight of him.

Gajeel met the eyes of the black haired man, there was a two second pause then several things happened at once.

The black haired one jumped forward, landing just in front of the girl, who ran into his back as she hadn't noticed his movement, letting out a gasp of surprise and opening her eyes, the other male too snapped out of his stupor and, shooting Gajeel a glare, rushed to stand beside his comrade. Both took fighting stances and glowered at Gajeel, standing between him and the little woman behind them. They were not going to be caught unaware like last time the four mages had come in contact. Gajeel simply stared, not reacting at all. The protests of the woman behind the two males fell on deaf ears. Frustrated, she popped her head around the orange haired man and looked at Gajeel. He stared back at her, their gazes met and her mouth fell open, shocked.

"Levy, get back! Dory and I will take care of this guy, we won't let him get any closer."

Gajeel couldn't help himself, he chuckled darkly and folded his arms over his chest, which was broader than both of the men standing before him combined. "Gihihi, yeah, 'cus that worked so well for ya' last time." The two males in front of Levy tensed and their expressions grew darker. The one to Gajeels right, Jet, fists where shaking slightly. "Don't worry you two, I ain't gonna' do anything to ya'." Gajeel was a little more serious now.

"Yeah," Jet sneered, "'cus we have every reason to trust your word. Henh – ain't gonna happen pal. We're on to you."

Gajeel lifted a studded eyebrow at this, "Oh really? And just what do ye' two think I'm up ta', huh? Gihihi." He didn't get a reply, "Well?" the dragon was starting to get impatient now, he did not like to be kept waiting. He glared at the two wizards, who instinctively tensed, Jet pushing the little mage behind him again. She on the other hand struggled free from his grip and took a step forward in front of her lackeys. This surprised all of the males present.

"w-wh-what do y-you w-w-ant..?" she was shaking slightly, even with her attempts to hide it, Gajeels sharp eyes caught the movement. He could smell the fear rolling off her. While it was still strong, he noted that it wasn't as heavy as when they had locked eyes in the guild hall all those days ago. Nonetheless, her fear was mixed with the scent of warn leather, ink, and dust that she always smelled like, and something else was added to the mix, a smell he had only smelled once before, when he was pinning her up to a tree and she had looked down upon him with those radiant amber eyes that haunted him so very much. Defiance. She smelled of defiance. Against him, his actions, the situation, the protection, what little it may be, of the two men now at her back, at the history they all shared. She was the only person that had ever made Gajeel feel small. And he hated her for that, and admired her at the same time. She was so freaking tiny compared to himself, how on earth could she have made him feel so small and pathetic? His fists clenched at his sides and he glared at her, his fangs baring slightly. She swallowed hard, but held her ground. He forced himself to relax.

"nothin'" he mutered, his red eyes boring into her, as her eyes had done to him for every night for the past several months. "'M just headin' to the guild for my reward, no need to get all jumpy, I ain't gonna' do nothin'." He smirked suddenly, "not like yer' two lap dogs could do anythin' about it if I did decide to do somethin'. Gihihi."

The two men growled at his last comment, but Gajeel waived them off. "'ecuse me missy, but I'm gonna be headin' out, don't need to wasting my time on you losers." He stretched his arms behind his head as he spoke, sending the trio a toothy grin, his red eyes flashing mischievously.

The girl, seemed a little off guard as his response. Blinking her stance relaxed a fraction as he grinned at her, her eyes widening and darting over his features, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. The hell's that about? Gajeel wondered. It didn't matter though. He turned ad strutted off down the path to Magnolia, his hands folded together behind his head.

Levy and the other two members of Shadowgear relaxed once he was out of sight. Levy's head hung as she thought about the encounter. What was that just now? When he smiled like that, it was so not what I expected from him… it was… it was… nice. Levy's mind raced as she thought about the dragon. She was snapped out of her thinking when Jet and Dory grabbed each one of her arms and practically dragged her along with them. They weren't following the path, but making their own in the tall grass. She protested to this, but once again her cries fell to deaf ears.

Once in the town Gajeel allowed himself to relax again, letting his arms fall to his sides and slowing his pace. Gods did he need a drink, or to punch someone's lights out. His frustration grew as he neared the guild hall. Momentarily forgetting that he wasn't exactly welcomed at the guild, he forced the door to the hall open and, ignoring the glares and hisses shot his way, strode towards the bar where Mira was washing glasses. He was no more than four strides to the bar when something hit him smack on the side of the face.

The room went completely silent as the Iron Dragon slayer turned a deathly glare in the direction of whence the chair had come. His red eyes landed on the Salamander and the half-dressed ice mage who had frozen in their scruff and were now staring at the dragon in front of them. Gajeel was now puffing like a bull, his hair bristling and eyes flashing, the aura in the room became thick as Gajeel launched himself towards the tow interlocked mages who were now holding onto each other for their lives – literally – as the Iron dragon arced down upon them with an animalistic cry. All of the frustration that been pent up at the sight of the trio on the hill came out in one punch, as Gajeel entered the fight between Natsu and Gray.

The thrashing didn't last long, though it did leave both Gray and Natsu spitting metal for a week afterwards. Gajeel staked to the bar and greedily accepted the drink that was already prepared for him by Mira, a second already on the table before he could finish the tinkered. He set the first glass down and grabbed the second, Mira reaching for his first glass and filling it again. As the dragon downed his third drink in less than ten seconds, the conversation slowly began to rise in the hall again.

Gajeel finished his fourth drink a little more slowly, actually tasting the bitter liquid. Mira had a fifth drink ready for him, she gave him a knowing smile before attending to some other guild members down the bar. He jerked his head at her in thanks, reaching for the pitcher.

"Well there big fella, you can really put them away." A slightly husky voice drawled to his left. Glancing that direction over his drink he saw the barely clad card mage he had hear people refer to as Cana. She too was sipping her drink, something she was never seen without while in the guild.

"Tch, what's it too ya'?" his voice was gruff and harsh, he really wasn't in the mood for chit chat.

Cana shrugged and took a long sip on her drink, watching him out of the corner of her eye. "Just figured since you took down those drinks so fast, and ya' ain't feeling the effects of it yet, that I might just have found someone who can hold their liquor just as well as I can." She lazily tossed him a wink. His eyes narrowed, what did she want? "So?" he questioned. "So?" she replied turning her full attention on him, "So… it means I've found my new drinking buddy!" She grinned and threw an arm around his shoulders leaning on him for balance. Gajeel was taken aback by the contact and sudden proximity to her, she smelled like booze and, now that she as closer to him, too close, he could tell she was a little more than tipsy, and it wasn't even four in the afternoon.

"There ain't another person in this entire town that can match me in drinking, but you sir, yeah you'll do alright!" she hiccupped, and swayed a little, but righted herself with a grin.

All Gajeel could do was stare at her in bewilderment. He turned to the bar as he hear a soft giggle.

"Here Cana, another one for you." Mira, who had come around the bar, carefully plucked the card mage from Gajeels shoulders and put another drink in her hand. "Hey, don't ya' think she's had enough?" Gajeel was surprised that Mira would allow Cana to continue drinking even when it was clear to him that she had had one too many. Mira only smiled at him, "Oh I don't think that Cana's ever had too much, all she needs is another drink and somehow she's right as rain!" Mira was guiding Cana away from the bar she spoke, something he appreciated. It was still strange to him that these people were beginning to warm to him. The Guild was changing slightly, mostly due to Mira's, Natsu's and Erza's acceptance of the dragon in to the guild.

He returned to his drink, now half gone. If Mira offered him another he would refuse. He only wanted to stop thinking, not get so shitfaced that he might do something to break what little trust he had gained in the days following his arrival. He stayed at the bar lost in his own thoughts for a few hours. The other mages began to file out and head back to their dwellings. There was a part of him that growled that he needed to find a place of his own soon as well, he couldn't keep living in the spare room behind the bar.

He felt the cool night air hit his back as someone left the guild. He rose and decided to talk a stroll through town to clear his head. Since when did he do so much thinking? He caught the door before it closed, and stepped out into the night. Off to his right he saw Salamander and his cat with the blond chick whose name he could never remember. He over herd Salamander say something about walking the girl home since it was after dark and she shouldn't be out without a male escort. She waved him off stating that she would be fine, suggesting that Natsu go home and rest since they had been on a particularly hard mission that day. The little blue cat agreed and the dragon slayer had taken off after scooping the blond up in an overly affectionate hug, then bounding off.

Gajeel smirked to himself, so Salamander did have a particular interest in this one? Ah yes he was reminded of the time he had kidnaped the girl and it had drove the pink haired man into a frenzy – taking a dragons mate from another was never a good idea – Gajeel had underestimated the bond between the two, something he wouldn't do again. He began to walk the streets of Magnolia taking in the night smells and sounds. He had to admit that this was a comfortable place to live in. The cobblestone streets shown in the lamp light, his shadow dancing along in the varying light and darkness.

His shadow. It reminded him of Shadowgear, and the little interaction that occurred earlier that day. He frowned down at the gray blue rocks beneath his boots as he walked down the middle of the street. What was he going to do about them? Hadn't one of the reasons he had agreed to join the guild was to make amends for the things he had done? How was he supposed to do that if when he tried, he was met with hostility and resistance? Can you blame them? The little voice inside his head that had annoyingly started talking to him after the fall of Phantom Lord, look at what you did to them? How can you expect them to forgive you for the pain you've caused them?

What had the master been thinking when he had asked Gajeel to join the guild? He didn't understand. He didn't know how long or where he walked, when something in his peripheral vision caught his attention and pulled him out of his musings. Shadows were moving on the wall of an alley to his left. He watched as what appeared to be three figures moved about in the alley, apparently cornering some poor sap. He was about to walk away when a familiar voice stopped him, and had him walking towards the shadows and not away.

"Get off me you creeps!" It was that blond girl that Natsu adored, if only he could remember her name. He slipped into stealth mode and snuck up on the group of people just down the alley and around a bend in the walls. Gajeel quickly and silently scaled the wall next to him, trotting noiselessly across the low roof of the building so that he was above the people in the alley.

The blond girl was cornered in the alley by three thugs of men, one was to close for her comfort so she struck out at him, he only swatted her hand away and laughed at her attempt. Gajeel frowned, why wasn't she really fighting back, he knew she could summon spirits with her magic, so why wasn't she doing so now? His question was answered shortly.

"Hehe, see here missy, we didn't want no trouble, just your little trinkets here. But see then you had to go and hit me and that pissed me of…. So sweetheart you're going to have to give me something else too, ain't that right boys?" the man in the middle of the three men shook the mages' keys at her tauntingly as he spoke to her. He was sneering and licked his lips as his companions laughed darkly. The girl, whose name still escaped him, looked terrified, she was shaking, her hands braced against the wall at her back while she watched every movement of the men in front of her. The second one of the slobs grabbed her wrist and pinned it above her head, Gajeel acted. He didn't need her scream, or the look of lust in the man's eye as he reached for his belt, to tell him what was about to happen.

He landed with a soft thud a few feet behind the gang leader who was now advancing on the woman before him. The sound of Gajeel landing behind him made the man glance over his shoulder, his muddy brown eyes meeting flaming blood red ones, belonging to a man a head taller than he who stood half in half out of the shadows. All the color in the man's face drained as he looked at the dragon slayer behind him. Gajeel smirked and leaned forward so that his face was only a few inches from the man's, his teeth flashed in the dim light of the alley as the dragon bared his fangs.

"'M pretty sure those keys don't belong to ya'… 'n I don't think the lady likes the way yer treatin' her." Gajeels voice was growling and dark as he grinned the words in the man's face. His unlucky victim was shaking so badly that the keys in his hand fell to the ground. He shuddered trying to find words, nothing but a sick gurgling noise came out. Gajeel's grin got bigger and more twisted.

"Scram ya' piece of shit, before ya' piss me off." The man, now cowering in front of him let out a small "eep!" and was suddenly scurrying away like the rat he was. "Gihihi," Gajeel looked to the other two and tilted his head slightly, giving them his best demonic smile, red eyes aflame, and fangs glinting. The remaining two men were gone in a flash, whimpering as they went.

Now it was only Gajeel and the blond woman who had sunk down the wall to her knees staring at him with wide tear filled eyes. She was sniffling and sobbing still somewhat. Gajeel scrapped the demonic look and sighed, picking up the mage's keys at his feet and stepping towards her. She cowered against the wall again whimpering and panting. He froze as he stepped towards her. He raised a studded eye brow and gazed at the mess of a woman at his feet.

"Hey now," his voice was a litter gruffer than he intended, so he cleared his throat and spoke a little softer, " I ain't gonna' hurt ya', here…" He held out the other had that wasn't holding he keys. She stared at him for a moment longer, then, slowly, tentatively, she reached for his hand. He closed his fingers around her hand and pulled her to her feet. She was a little shaky but she quickly regained her balance. "There, see? I ain't always the big bad dragon of the night everyone thinks I am." He muttered to himself, and too his surprise she giggled quietly. "whatcha'laughing fer?" she was blushing and hid her face in her hands. Gajeel frowned, Women, one minute they're scared to death of ya' the next they're laughing at something ya' said that wasn't even funny… I'll never understand them. He scratched the back of his head.

"Here." He handed her the keys he was still holding. She took them and offered him a smile. "ya' know, ya' shoulda' taken that flame brains offer of walking ya' back t' yer' place. Then we wouldn't be in this mess."

She looked down, "Yeah, that's probably true… thanks for saving me." Her voice was quiet, but sincere. He spared a glance at her, something in him nudging the words that never seemed to come out.

"I'm… sorry." Her head jerked up and she looked at him confused, he continued his hand still behind his head, "Fer' what I did to ya, before I joined this guild. I was only doin' what I figured would rile o'll flame brain up the most. But I'm… sorry, you… had to get hurt… in the process…" the words were not easy to say, but they seemed to flow from his mouth as a steady rate. She stared at him processing what he had just said. Slowly she relaxed and hugged herself.

"Thanks Gajeel, that means a lot." She looked up at him with a soft smile, her eyes shining, not just with tears, but something he hadn't seen in a very long time. Respect. He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze a

nd finally looked away mumbling something that sounded like a "don't worry 'bout it." She giggled again. Then reached out and lightly touched his arm. He jumped at the contact and stared at her wide eyed, she was willingly touching him?!

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you just make sure that no one else tries to follow me or anything until I get back to my place? It's only a few blocks from here."

"Uhhhh… yeah. Sure."

She beamed at him and turned around and began to walk off. The dragon stood rooted to the spot, then quickly strode off after the mage.

And he thought that going for a walk would help clear his head. Not make things even more complicated.

Well there we are! I have next week's chapter done, ready and waiting! but you'll have to wait until the 24th for it! hahaha - I'm evil. Your comments makes the chapters longer/better! :) Until next time!