A/N: Hello everyone! This is the second chapter to 'Iron Tongue'. I hope you enjoy! As always, please review! :)
P.S. I updated this chapter because I noticed there was a little mistake. This story is supposed to be kind of modern day-ish without magic, spells, mages or any of that kind of thing. I realized last night, in the wee hours of darkness with my cold heart and soul, that I mentioned Gruvia's child to be a possible ice/water mage. Oopsie. Anyways, now the child has changed into a mini ice sculptor/seamstress.
"Hello, did you find everything you were looking for?" Levy asked politely, taking the large book out of the little girl's hands.
The girl nodded shyly and peeked over the counter top to watch Levy as she wrapped the leather book in thin tissue before placing it in a bag with the store's logo.
"That'll be 3000 jewels," Levy said. The girl nodded and handed over the notes from her miniature purse. Levy counted the notes before handing over the bag with the book. She smiled at the girl and added, "Perfect. Thank you for shopping at McGarden Books."
The girl smiled and in a soft voice, she replied, "Thank you, Miss Levy." She hopped away from the front desk and ran to two adults whom Levy presumed were her parents. She watched as the girl's mother patted her head affectionately before the father picked her up in his arms with a grin and strolled out of the store, followed by the mother.
Once they were gone, Levy hopped off her seat behind the front desk and flipped over the open sign on the display window. They were now officially closed after a long and busy day of business.
"Man, that was some grand opening," Gray's voice said with a heavy sigh. Levy turned her head and saw him exiting the back room, shirtless. "I don't think I've ever talked about books so much in my life."
Natsu snickered. "You scared away all the customers, you perverted stripper," he teased. "Put a shirt on."
"Oh yeah? Wanna go, flamebrain? I bet you haven't read a book in your life!" the shirtless man retorted angrily.
Natsu growled. "I have. You've just been too cooped up in your castle to notice, ice princess!" he shouted back, raising a fist threateningly.
"What was that?" Gray yelled, obviously ticked off that Natsu had made fun of his ice sculpting occupation. He raised a fist as well and just as he was about to slam it into the salmon-haired man's nose, a voluptuous blue-haired woman came up to him and pulled him away.
"Gray-sama! You know Juvia hates it when you yell," she cried passionately, pulling at his arm. "Gray Jr. doesn't like it either." She pouted, snuggling closer to her boyfriend to remind him of her swollen belly.
Gray seemed to snap out of whatever anger tantrum he had been sucked into and glanced back worriedly. "J-Juvia! Sorry… I just—"
Juvia huffed and interrupted, "You just what? Juvia is angry with Gray and demands him to go buy her ice cream with pickles and hot peppers." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked away scornfully when Gray dropped to his knees pleadingly.
"I'm sorry. I-I'll go buy you ice cream right away," Gray said quietly, planting a kiss on her belly before standing and exiting the store, sulking the whole way.
Natsu laughed. "Ha! Serves you right, popsicle breath!" he yelled to the raven-haired man.
Gray scowled from outside and stuck up his middle finger to display his f**k off attitude toward Natsu when Juvia wasn't looking. Then he walked away and it became painfully evident that he wasn't wearing any pants. Everyone cringed.
"Calm down, Natsu," Lucy said, coming out of the back room as well. "You know Gray has been having it hard with Juvia's pregnancy." She smacked her husband upside the head. "I seriously don't understand. Why do you two have to fight all the time? I mean, I know he's an ice sculptor and you're a firefighter and opposites clash but…"
Natsu rolled his eyes, rubbing the throbbing pain on the back of his head. "We fight just 'cuz."
Lucy groaned.
"Juvia does not mean to be so strict with Gray-sama," Juvia whimpered suddenly, wiping at tears that were starting to form in her eyes. "Juvia is just worried about having a miscarriage like last time and she doesn't want to disappoint Gray-sama."
Levy smiled at her comfortingly, rubbing her back to soothe some of her aches and pains from carrying the large weight of an unborn child. "It's not your fault. None of us could have guessed what happened last time," she murmured gently.
It had been everyone's worst nightmare. Juvia and Gray had been dating for some time now and had been living with each other for a few years. However, no one expected them to become parents first. Everyone had predicted Natsu and Lucy to be the first. Nevertheless, everyone was overjoyed to hear the possibility that a mini ice sculptor/seamstress would be born. Then, the worst happened. Juvia started to experience certain health problems during her pregnancy and ended up having an early unexpected miscarriage. Gray had beat himself up over it, convinced that his constant rivalry with Natsu had something to do with the stress that caused Juvia's health to decline.
It had been a dark couple of weeks afterwards but the couple managed to overcome their grief together. Now, Juvia was expecting again and everyone was doing their best to make her pregnancy as comfortable as possible.
"Levy's right," Erza added, seemingly out of nowhere. She had secretly exited the back room the moment Gray and Natsu had started to argue. Luckily, the fight had ended before she had to step in and use her policewoman skills. "It definitely was not your fault, Juvia."
Lucy glared pointedly at Natsu.
Natsu looked like he understood what his wife was silently implying and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry, Juvia. I didn't mean to fight with Gray. I got carried away," he apologized in a genuine tone.
Juvia nodded and sniffled. "Juvia accepts Natsu's apology."
Levy smiled gently. "Don't worry, Juvia. Everything will work out."
Lucy giggled. "Anyways, Erza… How have things with Jellal been working out?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
Natsu groaned at the topic of conversation.
Pink bloomed on Erza's cheeks until her face matched the shade of her scarlet hair. "W-What? W-We've been fine, thank you," Erza stammered, avoiding the prying eyes of Lucy.
Lucy giggled. "So I guess the long-distance aspect hasn't been a problem?"
Erza crossed her arms over her chest and haughtily replied, "O-Of course not!"
Levy giggled. The strong Erza rarely showed her weakness but it was apparent that Jellal was one of them. They had met on an online dating site and both realized that they had been childhood friends. Needless to say, they hit it off right away despite the distance between where they lived.
Natsu rolled his eyes dramatically and said, "Hey, Luce. Remember what you need to tell Levy?"
Levy blinked in confusion. Tell her? Tell her what? Was something the matter?
Lucy nodded. "Oh, right. Um…Levy, I need you help."
"What kind of help?" Levy asked eagerly, interested in what she could possibly be needed for.
"Well, yesterday you know Natsu and I took Happy to the vet. We were just about to hop off the train in Magnolia and we met this…man," Lucy explained seriously.
"A man?" Juvia echoed, sitting down on a nearby chair. Her back was killing her.
"Yeah; he was really odd. He looked like a barbarian!" Lucy exclaimed. "He was naked besides an animal skin tied around his waist. His junk was barely covered!"
Erza frowned. "A barbarian, you say… That's a case I haven't come across yet. However, now that I think about it, there have been reports of a suspicious semi-nude man roaming the outskirts of Magnolia and—"
"But that could just be Gray!" Natsu intercepted. "This guy was totally different! He was pretty intimidating; over six feet tall, long black hair, piercings covering his face. I wouldn't be surprised if he had bolts for brains."
"We found him chewing on a piece of scrap metal," Lucy added, shuddering. "He was actually able to chew through it."
"What did you do?" Levy asked, eyes wide. "Did he hurt you guys?"
Lucy swallowed nervously, scratching her cheek. "W-Well... Natsu and I... sort of... took him home with us?" The answer came out sounding more like an unsure question.
"You what?" Erza exclaimed, slamming her hands down on Levy's front desk. Levy winced for the poor piece of furniture. "You let a suspicious stranger into your house? That's dangerous, Lucy!"
"I-I can explain!" Lucy squeaked.
"Hey, back off!" Natsu growled, pissed off at Erza's tone towards his beloved wife. "It was my idea! The guy didn't look like he had a place to stay."
Erza scowled. "Fine. But did you at least get his name or something we could identify him with in case anything happens?"
"That's the problem," Natsu sighed. "He doesn't speak Fiorian."
Erza blinked. "What?"
"That's why we're requesting your help, Levy," Lucy explained, glancing at Levy. "You're the only one who stands a chance at figuring out what he's saying. We already tried using translation lacrima to decode his words but it was useless. He speaks an unknown language when he speaks at all."
Unknown language? Levy's eyes widened at the possibility. There was a chance of her learning a new language! A language that hadn't been discovered yet! The thought was mind-boggling yet it sent a chill of excitement down Levy's spine.
"I'll do it!" Levy exclaimed. "When do I get to meet him?" She hopped up and down in excitement.
"He's still at our house. He refuses to leave the garden for some reason," Lucy said with a frown.
"Maybe he's accustomed to the outdoors," Erza suggested intelligently.
"She could be right," Levy agreed. "If he's as barbaric as you say he is, there's a big chance that he's not used to indoor civilization."
"Juvia is very excited with the thought of this mystery person but she wants to know if you left him alone at your house. Juvia thinks it might have been a bad idea to leave an uncivilized man in an unfamiliar place," Juvia chimed in.
Lucy gasped at the thought. "We left him with Happy!" she cried in distress.
Natsu shrugged. "So, it's fine. Nothin' to worry about with Happy on guard!" he declared with a massive grin and a thumbs up.
Everyone groaned in unison.