Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.
It has happened by accident one day at the guild, changing my life unknowingly. It was like any other day at our guild, loud, rowdy and eventful. I had just gotten back from doing a mission with panther lily and was trying to get to the bar to tell MiraJane I was back. I was so tired out, that the idea of joining in the normal fights, drinking contest or telling of stories just didn't interest me, as I carefully weaved between the people.
About halfway to the bar, my instincts told me to turn sideways, just in time to see a chair wiz past my head. Narrowing my eyes and giving a low threatening growl in the direction the chair came from. Earning me a muted 'We are sorry!' from whoever did it, before shrugging my shoulders and attempting to get to the bar once more. There were a few shouted 'hello' at me, which I just nodded my head in acknowledgment.
"OH! Your back already Gajeel. Let's see...okay let me enter this into the book, you are free to go, but would you like something to eat first?" MiraJane asked as she took the slip from me, and pulling the register book from out of nowhere.
Giving her a definite shake of my head, to indicate I didn't want anything. I turned and began the arduous trek back to the guild doors. Once more I was about halfway across the room when my instincts made me react. Spinning around, I saw Bunny Girl heading in my direction, a smile on her lips. Then behind her a rather powerful explosion of Fire and Ice magic. Feeling my eyes go wide as the room shook from the backlash of it, tossing one Lucy Heartfillia into my chest.
The pained and shocked look on her face as I wrapped one arm around her shoulders to brace and steady her while shifting my other arm into a large metal shield. In a matter of seconds, it took to do all this, the guild had gone completely silent. Glancing down to the blond in my arms, I saw wide doe brown eyes looking up at me, her pupils so dilated that the brown was just a quarter inch thick. But what struck me was the small electric feeling zinging through my body where our skin connected. Snapping my gaze up to the offenders who were just staring like everyone else.
What little patience I had left on my temper snapped as I returned my arm back to normal before bellowing. "WHAT THE HELL Flame brain and Gray? You two almost hurt your teammate with that attack. Can't you two just stop being big ass babies for once, and consider those around you. If I hadn't caught Bunny Girl, she could have been seriously hurt by that backlash of your magic abilities. For once in your damned lives think before you do fight. Besides you guys are always destroying the guild with those fights, costing Master Makarov a shit ton of money to repair it."
Upon finishing my rant, I noticed that it was still quiet in the guild. A sense of unease washing over me as I began to feel everyone's eyes boring into me. Glaring harshly at them all, as if to dare them to say anything, they all began to go back to what they were doing. Only much more quietly, making me feel a sense of satisfaction from it, that only seemed to double when I saw the chastised look on Gray and Natsu's face.
Glancing back down seeing that Lucy had calmed a bit. "You okay there Bunny Girl?" Was all I asked, getting a small nod from her.
At her nod I let her go, before turning away from her and walking out the guild. I hadn't gone far from the guild before it began to get rambunctiously loud one more. Shaking my head as I headed home, letting my mind wander briefly at the fact that I was smelling Strawberries and Orchids, from having Bunny Girl pressed against my body. Looking down at my hands, realizing that it was the first time I had actually had a massive skin to skin contact with her.
Sure in the years I had been a part of Fairy Tail I had grazed her with my hands or my arms briefly in passing that it had hardly been noticeable. Letting out a small sigh and I looked down at my hands and wrist. Her skin had felt so smooth, supply soft and resilient to my touch. Though at the moment it had happened my mind hadn't realized it since it was in a high tension situation.
Blinking my eyes as I felt a small smile creep across my lips as I thought to myself. "I want to touch her again. Just to see if I got that same electric feeling."
My chance didn't come for another week or so because their team had left the next morning for a mission. At first, I didn't mind it, didn't think that it was important to see if I would feel it again. But as the days progressed, the need to see if it was really beginning to make me obsessed. So by the time they returned, I had turned into an introverted, growling bear. As I think back on it, it hadn't occurred to me at all that something inside of me had changed. That my slayer instincts were telling me something important.
So when they returned and I saw Lucy walk in, a smile on her face, making her eyes light up. A sweet laugh coming from full lips as she playfully smacked Gray, after he said something, I stood up and started to make my way towards her. Only going a few steps when my mind rationalized that I had no reason other than a driving need to touch her again, to talk to her. Rolling my eyes up towards the ceiling as my own stupidity, I started to turn around and head back to where I was sitting.
Barely had I begun to sit when a soft voice spoke to me, making me go very, very still. "Uh, Gajeel...I hope I am not bothering you. Lisanna told me you have been in a bad mood the last few days. But..uh... I wanted to come and say Thank You, for helping me last week."
My body turned slowly as if it was entrapped in a vat of gel. When I was finally facing in her direction, I let my head drop so my chin was almost on my chest, giving me a good look at her. She stood there, fidgeting nervously and sucking rather enticingly on her bottom lip while waiting for me to say something. Her words running through my head, giving me a reason to actually talk to her.
"Eh, not a biggie Bunny Girl. I mean we are guildmates right? Nakama, so we are supposed to help each other out." I said, mentally kicking myself at how stupid I probably sounded.
Watching as Lucy blinked her eyes a few times, before a large smile curved her full lips, her head tilting to the left, and her eyes scrunching half shut as she gave a musical sounding laugh. "Your right. But all the same, I thank you wholeheartedly Gajeel."
After she finished speaking, she turned deftly making her way through the crowded guild room to her team, in the far back corner. All of them watching her with various looks of protectiveness to the adoration of a good friend. Looking over my shoulder at the empty seat and table, I just shoved my hands in my pockets and left the guild. Already I could feel the palms of my hands begin to itch, reminding me that I really, really wanted to touch her and just missed my chance.
Somewhere deep in my mind, a little scene of a little me with horns and pitchfork was kicking another version of me with wings and halo, screaming over and over, 'BAKA! Stupid! Moron!' It was rather comical to see, making me laugh aloud, causing people passing me in the street to glance at me funny. Not caring, though I knew exactly why the little evil version of me was screaming those degrading names. It was true, I missed my chance like an idiot.
Deciding that I didn't want to go home and be alone, but instead go to a place where I was alone with people, I made my way to Magnolia Park. Making my way over to the tree that I had originally nailed Levy's team, Team Shadowgear, to back before I joined the guild. I slumped against it, resting my head on the scarred bark of the tree. Letting my mind wander, losing track of time as I just stood there.
So absorbed that I jumped when I heard that soft voice speak, "Gajeel? Hello, earthland to Gajeel Redfox, are you okay?"
Slowly I turned my head so I could see Lucy, as she stood there a genuine look of concern on her face, as she reached out and placed her hand on my arm. "Seriously are you okay Gajeel? Your acting funny." her pleasant voice resonated in my ears as she spoke again.
But all I could do was shift myself so I was looking at her hand on my arm. Those tiny little jolts of electricity running all along my arm from where her small, delicate hand lay on my bicep, noting that my heart was beating a bit faster with each second. I felt a smile curve my lips as I just looked from her hand on my arm to her face and back again. Then without meaning too, I just burst out in a small fit of giggles. Which must have been a bit shocking for her, since she jumped a bit and started to remove her hand from my person.
Shaking my head, I snatched her hand and placed it back on my bicep. I watched her face carefully as I did that. Noting the faintest of blushes, turning the bridge of her nose a beautiful Sakura pink, as well as the way she shyly cast her eyes away from mine. Already I could feel her pulse in her wrist increase from the contact. Half shuttering my eyes as I enjoyed the warmth her hand, as I enjoyed the soft, suppleness of her skin.
"Uh, um... Gajeel, is there a purpose to you...keeping my hand on you?" She asked as she lifted her gaze back to mine, only to blush a bit darker at seeing my eyes only half open.
Smirking softly before replying, "Yeah. It is a selfish reason. One that has been driving me nuts for the last week and a half Bunny Girl."
Her mouth opening into a cute, but silent 'oh' as she stared up at me in awe. Giving me the urge to lean down and kiss those full, glossy lips, to see if they would as well send little jolts through me. But it was soon taken away as she spoke, "Would you be willing to tell me what this. A selfish reason it?"
Staring at her for a few minutes, causing her to shift from one leg to the other and back again. Finally, I nodded and responded, "Yeah, but you will think it is really weird. But ever since I helped you in the guild, I have..wanted to touch you again. I mean at the time I didn't notice it, but as I thought over the events, I realized that it was one: the first time I had ever had that much contact with you, let alone skin to skin. And that it sent small electrical jolts throughout my body. Thinking it was a fluke or something, it made me want to touch you again." My voice trailing off.
Her face went through so many different emotions flit across her heart-shaped face. Making me wonder what she was thinking, or even if she was disgusted with me. So after about three minutes of complete silence, I felt like an idiotic fool and let her hand go, stepping back away from her. I wasn't used to being so honest about my feelings and felt very embarrassed, which was a new thing for me.
As I started to walk away from her, I felt her hands on my arm, tugging me to stop. Which I complied with, but didn't didn't turn to look at her. So when she spoke, I paid very close attention, "I..I am a bit shocked Gajeel. That wasn't what I was expecting you to say at all. But, uh truth be told, I know what mean about wanting to touch again. On the last mission, I was too distracted thinking about those little electrical shocks. So Natsu asked me what I was thinking and I told him. It is one of the few times I have actually seen him get serious as he thought something through. He told me that his father, Igneel, told him that when he found his mate, that he'd feel odd things, and become obsessed with simple things like touch, or smell..."
I felt my jaw drop almost painfully at what she was saying. My mind racing back through all the conversations I had had with Metalicana. Giving a dark chuckle at how stupid I had been, I spun around and looked down at Lucy. "Well damn, flame-brain can be insightful every so often. You are right, but I had all but forgotten that comment... So uh... Where do you wanna go from here, knowing this information Bunny Girl." I asked my voice very soft as I looked down into her eyes.
"Well for starters, would you please call me Lucy. And then we can get to know each other, cause from what Natsu said, there is no denying that feeling or sensation. Because it will only make it worse. Besides, you're a damned good looking guy." She whispered, only to slap a hand over her mouth at her last sentence.
My eyes had about bugged out of my eyes, before I burst out into a loud guffawing laughter, and pulling her into a hug. "That sounds like a plan, Lucy. And I think you have one of the most bodacious bodies I have ever seen." I said in a breathy voice in her ear, earning a small 'eek'.