MBS Chapter 3 Secrets and Confessions
She was in a daze still. In less than a day, after weeks of confusion, things had changed. Far more than she had ever expected them too. Now she was sitting at the bar in the guild, lost in thought as she fiddled with the food on her plate, not even feeling the burning gaze that was staring at her from a dark corner of the guild. After a few more minutes of pushing the food around on its plate, she shoved the meal away before leaving the guild, still lost in thought.
She didn't even realize Bix was stumbling back into the guild until she walked right into him and nearly fell, barely being caught by his large hands. Feeling a familiar zing rush through her, she looked up to see the guilds soul mage looking down at her with a strained and slightly pinched smile.
"Careful now bookworm, wouldn't want you hurting that brain of yours." He chided quietly before setting her to the side and heading for the stairs leading to the second floor.
He wasn't in his usual work clothes today, faded jeans and a skin tight athletic shirt stretched across his broad chest, the logo on the mock turtle neck, breast and sleeves for a high end designer label for serious exercise gear, the kind she had certainly never invested in. Watching him jog up those stairs sent heat through every inch of her. Gulping hard, she just watched as he disappeared up the stairs, uncertain as to how to take what she was feeling, especially after what Gajeel had told her earlier.
How was she supposed to handle any of this? Shaking her head in disbelief at her own thoughts she continued on her way, heading back to Fairy Hills for hopefully some thinking time. She had to trust Gajeel. The whole thing that had happened when he'd taken her from the guild the other day had replayed in her mind over and over, she clung to it now.
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Gajeel had whisked Levy to a dark unlit spot by Fairy Hills, setting her suddenly on her feet and letting his shadows dissipate as he stood over her. It was hard for her to breathe, he was so close, all she could smell was him, she could feel the heat coming off of his body he was so near, she almost whimpered when his hands fell from her arms.
"Look at me Shrimp, now." He snapped but his tone was soft, it still jolted her and she looked up at him wide eyed, how much had he heard? What did he know? Of sweet Mavis he was a Dragon Slayer, he could have heard her low voice from across the guild, why hadn't she looked?!
She was desperate that was why, the dreams haunted her, the feelings were getting to her. She didn't know what was happening but she felt like she was coming apart.
"A sub huh?" Gajeel prodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, his expression was soft, no judgement, no ridicule, no disgust, the things she feared she'd see in him just…weren't there.
She nodded, unable to find her voice.
He leaned closer to her, a hand sliding into her hair preventing her from stepping back. "Did it occur to you I might just be a little on the…dominant side?" His smirk sent her pulse racing and color flooding her face.
"I..I" She couldn't speak, the words wouldn't come and Gajeel stepped in, now holding her head with both of his hands, his breath mingling with hers.
"I am Levy." He said and she shivered as she felt his lips brush hers when he spoke, not quit making full contact, just teasing her with feather like touches.
"Oh…oh Gods…I…" She stammered. He'd used her name, he so rarely did, it just scattered her thoughts everywhere.
"Shh, calm down Shrimp, you…do not…disappoint me, you're not too short, too small…you're just right for me…understand?" His tone demanded an answer and she nodded starting to lower her eyes.
"I didn't say you could look down." He snapped and her eyes shot back to his. Gajeel almost purred, she was flawless, perfect.
"I didn't know you were into the same things as me, and I thought…after what happened when we first met…you'd be anything but interested, was I wrong?" He asked.
She was staring at him, lips parted, eyes filled with longing and amazement and he narrowed his. "Answer me."
"You were…" she replied.
He smirked again. "You want me to ravish you huh?"
Her eyes widened, lips moving but no sound came as she blushed almost purple as she nodded.
He drug his lips over her cheek, letting the piercings along his nose and chin scrape gently over her skin sending shudders through her and almost closing his eyes when she whimpered.
"I'll be what you want…Levy…everything…you need to wait, trust me and follow my orders if you want me though, are you willing?" He whispered into her ear and she nodded furiously.
He pulled back to meet her wide eyes again hovering and then tilted his head just a little, waiting to see her eyes dart for a moment to his lips.
"Kiss me then." He ordered and she lunged, crashing her lips into his and he could have fucking cried for joy over it. He pulled back and she whimpered again.
"Soon, I promise, now…no touching yourself…" he said and smiled when she gasped and looked mortified. "I can smell when you do no matter how many times you wash those perfect fingers, you wait, wait for me, I won't make you wait much longer and I want you to read, find Dragon Slayer mating information Shrimp…I want you to understand things and a book will tell you better than I can. Promise me you won't touch yourself, you let that tension build." He said firmly and she nodded.
"Say it." He snapped.
"I…I pro…promise Gajeel." She answered shakily. Holy Gods he'd let her kiss him, he was going to take her on…he…he was into the same things, spoke to her just..perfectly. So tall, so powerful…he was…almost…everything she'd ever dreamed of, Gods even what he'd done, that had planted the seed, it had to have, that the raven haired ruby eyed Dragon Slayer could be all she had ever wanted, but he'd hurt her so badly then.
"I wont ever break you Shrimp…what happened before…that wasn't who I am now…" He said. She smiled faintly.
"I know it…I really do…I…I'm very happy…with this." She managed.
He nodded and stood to his full height, stepping back and crossing his arms over his wide chest. Even in the dim light where they stood the definition of those thickly muscled arms showed and she swallowed hard. Dear sweet Gods…he was going to be hers…
"Now, be a good girl, get inside and get some fucking sleep, I promise I'll take care of you soon." He said and she smiled widely eyes suddenly radiant, and she turned and ran into Fairy Hills.
Gajeel watched her, smiling faintly then frowning, looking back toward the guild. He had to sort this out and fast now. He'd made a promise.
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Back at the guild things continued on as they usually did with the exception of a few. There was the constant dull roar of conversation that echoed off the walls, and the hustle and bustle of Mira, Kinana and Lisanna serving the members food and drink. There were a handful of people however, aware of the tension building between a few select guild mates. The Raijinshuu at their table watched with concerned eyes as Bickslow entered the guild and ran straight into Levy.
Some of the information they had found in their dragon mating research left them feeling like they were going in circles. Dragon slayers had a mate, yes, but they had not found anything indicating the possibility of two mates...so what the hell was going on?
While trying to keep Gray and Natsu from getting into yet another fight, Lucy was keeping an eye on Gajeel at his usual shadowed table, trying to think of some way to approach him about what was going on between him and Levy. Watching his reaction to Levy and Bickslow running into each other was just..confusing. When any man got near her he usually seemed to tense and get more pissed off looking than usual, but when Bickslow did, he just smiled, no anger, no tension, just a look that was wistful and maybe thoughtful.
And just when Lucy thought things couldn't get any more crazy, the guild doors were thrown open once more, the light from outside casting the newcomers in shadow, hiding their features. The resulting rumbling growl that could be heard coming from the shadowed corner had her jolting, even as she saw Natsu freeze in place before spinning around with his signature grin. Before she could latch herself onto him, he was launching himself at the newcomers, one fist already aflame. It took another moment for her to realize that one of the newcomers had launched themselves forward as well.
The sound of a solid slap on skin contact had her wincing, and as she blinked her eyes, and the doors were finally swinging shut, she was able to fully make out those who had come to visit.
Crime Sorciere, Sting Eucliffe, and Rogue Cheney.
He smelled them before the doors opened and had to fight every instinct he had to not launch himself at the unmated MALE dragon slayers that were approaching his home. He already struggled hard with having Laxus and Natsu around, but now three, another three slayers had shown up at his home, and he questioned whether he would be able to control himself.
Rather than chancing his control and confronting them, he stayed where he was, for now, his eyes narrowing with another snarl that rang through the guild hall, and watched as the idiot flame head launched himself at those standing in the door. Not surprising seeing as how one of the new comers reacted in kind. He could see many brace for what they were sure would be another full out brawl taking place, and instead everyone sweat dropped as the flame idiot and the self-centered dick bag exchanged manly hugs, complete with loud slaps of hands on shoulders or arms.
The fact that there were another three slayers there, even just visiting, let alone in the same city as his mates, had his inner dragon snarling in denial. They were his dammit, no one elses. He had to get them sorted out and this sure as fuck wasn't helping him.
Swallowing back the lurking growl, Gajeel finally stood and approached the visitors, his gaze narrowed and menacing as he stopped before the others. He knew as Cobra turned his eye towards him that he had already heard his dragon soul essentially warning him off. The raised hands he gave as he stepped back showed his acknowledgment. Shifting his gaze towards the shadow dragon slayer, Gajeel crossed his arms in a show of determination.
"What the fuck are you idiots doing here?" Gajeel demanded, his gaze running over all of them before settling back on Rogue.
"We need to speak to Master Markarov." Jellel answered, reaching up to pull the hood of his cloak back. Running fingers through his hair, he ran his gaze over the current occupants, torn between relief and sadness when he didn't see a scarlet head of hair among those at the guild. Hearing this, Gajeel turned his head to look at him with some concern.
"Everything alright?" He asked gruffly.
"Oh yes, everything's fine, just something that hopefully he can help us with." Jellal assured.
With that said he headed for the staircase leading to the upper floor where the masters and s-class wizards offices were. He had been here enough times over the last number of years with his small guild that he felt just as at home here as he did anywhere else in his travels. When the rest of Crime Sorciere, Sting and Rogue followed after them, Gajeel shook his head and retreated back to his watchful corner, careful not to let his gaze roam back to the seith mage too often. The man almost seemed to feel it when his gaze lingered more than a second or so.
Upstairs in the masters office a group of six individuals stood before Markarov with unreadable expressions on their faces.
"Well, I must say, this visit was unexpected. What can I do for all of you?" Markarov asked, hopping up to stand on the top of his desk, facing those before him head on. The silence that stretched on had him raising an eyebrow as the others exchanged look before Cobra stepped forward with a roll of his eye.
"Since no one else has the balls to start this shit, we want to join Fairy Tail." Cobra said bluntly, shoving his hands into his pockets, meeting Markarovs gaze directly. The fact that he had never been able to hear the mans soul was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing cause it was an area of quiet that Cobra never really got, and a curse because he could never hear anything Markarov would say or do.
"And what exactly brought this on?" He asked, shifting his gaze to Jellal for the answers.
"In our travels we've been hearing the stirrings of some...questionable things, dark guilds targeting each other, kidnapping mages out on jobs from light guilds, and further rumblings from other underground guilds. Plus, we were recently asked to meet with the king and the princess of Fiore. For all the things that we've done, they've pardoned us, and have further asked us to continue our work in the shadows, with the understanding that we need to join a registered guild." Jellal explained. Refusing to acknowledge the other reason beneath all of that that had swayed his decision to agree with the kings orders.
Huffing out in exasperation, Cobra followed that statement with a slight smirk. "Not to mention this now allows him to pursue a certain requip mage after having the sense knocked into him by fellow guild members."
Jellal flushed brightly, hunching his head down between his shoulders, cursing Cobra so fervently that Cobra busted out laughing, especially with the knowing smirks that were aimed at him from each and every one of the mages in the room.
"Well that answers one group, what about the two of you?" Markarov asked, turning to the two sabertooth slayers.
"Honestly, while being guild master for the sabers was fun, I miss the jobs and adventures that came with just being a mage. I've passed the guild onto Minerva after she worked to prove herself to actually care about the members, not just the power anymore." Sting shrugged, his face bland, looking impartial.
Before Cobra could open his mouth once more, causing more discomfort, Rogue spoke up. "And I'm with him because aside from a select few of your own members, I'm the only one who can reign him in at least slightly. Plus we're partners, we work well together, and having to get used to a new partner is a headache I'd rather avoid." Rogue said impassively. Out of them all, he was the only one to actually voice the full truth, and Cobra had to respect that.
Nodding his head at this, Markarov turned back to the group of Crime Sorciere. "What about the rest of your members?" He asked carefully.
"Sorano joined the Sabers to be with her sister, Richard went off to join Blue Pegasus, and Sawyer decided to join Lamia Scale. He's got a bit of a crush on one of the little mages." Meredy explained with a soft smile.
Nodding in understanding, Markarov looked over the six mages gathered before him with a wide smile. Meredy, the sensory mage, Macbeth the illusion mage, Jellal with his heavenly body magic, and then of course the three slayers. Cobra with his soul listening and poison Dragon slayer lacrima, Sting the light dragon slayer, and Rogue the shadow dragon slayer. All mages powerful in their own right, who had faced their struggles, and managed to rise above all off it.
Smiling at the new additions, Markarov quickly turned and yanked open the top right desk drawer, pulling out the guild stamp, turning back to lift it up. "Alright brats, who's first?" He asked with a grin, and when he got full blown grins from each of them, even Cobra, he knew he would do all he could to help them in their endeavors.
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"ALRIGHT BRATS LISTEN UP!' Markarov bellowed from his perch on top of the second floor banister, ignoring the winces and glares he received from the three slayers beside him as his bellow caused their ears to ring.
The brawl that had been taking place with a certain fire slayer and ice mage at the middle of it, halted immediately as everyone turned their heads to their master in unison. Markarov could be seen standing on the banister with three mages leaning against it in some way on either side of him.
"What is it Master?" A familiar voice asked as she left her plate of cake at the bar. It didn't even take what Cobra could hear from the tattooed pancakes soul to know Jellal was flushing brightly. Erza had apparently arrived at some point during their conversation, and at seeing Jellal, was doing everything to keep herself focused on the guild master rather than the man she loved.
"After much discussion, Crime Sorciere have decided to join us as members, and are now instead a team, and our fellow slayers from Sabertooth have decided to change guilds and are now a part of our family as well." Markarov announced with an indulgent smile. The resulting cheer that exploded from those on the first floor had dust drifting down from the rafters above, and the slayers attempting to protect their sensitive ears.
Cobra leaned towards Markarov, using the noise as cover to whisper something into his ear, receiving a nod in response. Lifting his hands to gain the guilds attention, silence settled once more as they waited for whatever else was needed to be said.
"Laxus, Natsu, and Wendy, I need the three of you to join me in my office. The rest of you, I fully expect you to welcome our new members in true Fairy Tail fashion. Let's party!" Markarov announced with a shout. The responding cheer was just as loud as the first and drinks started flowing more freely, and music was quickly turned up. As the rest of the mages with Markarov made their way to the lower floor, Cobra grabbed the shoulders of Sting and Rogue, keeping them in place with a quick shake of his head at their questioning looks.
Leading them back into his office, Laxus, Natsu, and Wendy were quick to join them, and the moment the office door swung shut, Markarov snapped his fingers, activating the runes Freed and Levy had set that would allow no sound or smell to escape the room. Settling into the furniture around the room, the slayers looked at Markarov expectantly.
"What's up jiji?" Laxus asked, stretching an arm out along the back of the couch he sprawled on with Wendy and Rogue.
"Cobra actually has something he felt he needed to share with you, so this meeting was actually called by him." Markarov announced, waving a hand towards the man who was leaning against the wall next to the office door. When he saw each of the slayers turn towards him and found absolutely no
hostility towards him coming from their souls, he found himself oddly uncomfortable. Pushing away from the wall, he started to pace back and forth in the small space where he could, gathering his thoughts, and actually trying to consider how to word some of the things he had discovered over the last number of months. Especially the thing he had heard when he had first walked into the guild and nearly had an iron dragon slayer tearing his throat out, just for being there.
Stopping, he turned back to the others and met each of the gazes, before speaking. "Each of us in here need to tread carefully around Gajeel for the forseeable future." He warned, crossing his arms and once more leaning back against the wall.
"Um...why would we need to do that? I had actually been hoping to get some additional training in with him." Rogue spoke up, watching Cobra closely.
"I wouldn't suggest it right now. His dragon is being very demanding, and it's taking every thread of control he has to keep from attacking Laxus and Natsu. Wendy isn't as much of a threat, yet, because of her age. Add in three new slayers to what he considers his home turf, and his control is becoming thread bare." Cobra explained.
"He...oh my Mavis...He found his mate didn't he? And his mate is in the guild?" Wendy asked, an ecstatic grin lifting her lips, even as her hands covered her mouth to keep the squeal she wanted to let loose at bay. When she got an indulgent smile in return, she couldn't help but shrug in return. She had a feeling that he could hear her internal squealing. At his nod, she chuckled, knowing that she had guessed it right.
"Yes to both of those questions, and so, because of that, his dragon is seeing us unmated slayers as additional threats." Cobra answered.
"It's Levy isn't it?!" Natsu demanded, leaning forward with an infectious grin. Cobra kept his face blank as he turned from Natsu, hearing that Laxus knew far more than he was letting on.
"That would be partially right." Cobra stated.
"Wait, what do you mean 'partially'?" Sting asked, his brows drawing together in confusion.
"Apparently we have a rare fucked up situation on our hands. Our very own Iron Dragon Slayer has two mates. The little blue headed bookworm, and the guild jokester."
The silence that fell was so sudden, that if Cobra hadn't known that it was still daylight outside, he would've sworn he could hear crickets chirping from outside.
"WHAT?!" Natsu roared, jumping to his feet, hands exploding into flames. Rogue gaped and started stammering while Sting started grinning lecherously.
"Damn, the best of both worlds I'd say." Sting smirked crossing his arms as he leaned back in the chair he had commandeered. Reaching out with a lightening coated fist, Laxus was quick to sucker punch Natsu in the back of his head, knocking him out cold, causing his flames to flicker out.
"And this is why we have to be careful." Cobra stated firmly. "If any one of us try to approach Bickslow or Levy by ourselves, and Gajeel finds out about it, we may end up in the infirmary because his dragon will be pushing him to protect those he knows are his. Or in his case, those who are his mates."
"I'm sure I could take him on." Sting said confidently, smug confidence coming off of him in waves.
"Sure, you go ahead and try approaching either of those without someone with you, let alone approach them with anything other than just friendly intentions, and I have no issue with watching him wipe the floor with you as his dragon takes over. Hell, I'll laugh and eat popcorn while it happens." Laxus huffed, settling back in his spot on the couch.
"You don't seem too surprised by this Laxus." Rogue stated quietly.
"That would be because Bickslow in a way already knows."
"What does that mean?" Markarov finally asked, speaking up for the first time since the conversation had started. He watched in a bit of worry as his grandson pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Not too long ago, I was over at Bix's house, I showed up while he was still sleeping, and found him talking in his sleep. He mentioned both Gajeel and Levy in his sleep. When I woke him up, I tried to give him shit about it, and rather than laughing it off like he usually would, he went paper white. I managed to get what was going on out of him. I don't think he knows that Gajeel has identified him as one of his mates. But Bix does know that Gajeel and Levy are his soul mates. Apparently seith mages have a soul mate, similar to that of a dragon slayer mate. Even more rare is when a seith mage has two soul mates. The last one with two soul mates was documented hundreds of years ago."
"So you've known about this?" Wendy asked.
"Not that Gajeel identifies him as one of his mates, that one was a surprise, but at the same time it makes sense considering Gajeel is Bickslows soulmate. I only even know that much because Bix told me." Laxus answered with a shrug.
"Alright, in regards to this new information coming to light, I'm warning each of you to be cautious around Levy and Bickslow. Never be around either of them by yourself. If you end up in a situation that causes that to happen, do everything to fix that as quickly as possible. Help each other with that as needed. If any of you disregard this, and you are harmed in the process, I'm holding you personally responsible. You are all dismissed." Markarov ordered with a wave of his hand.
After the slayers left in a single file, closing the door behind them, he let out a tired sigh, letting his head fall to the desk before him. When a flash of light and burst of pure power announced the arrival of a newcomer, he lifted his head to look at the new arrival with a grin.
"Hello old friend, what brings you here today?" Markarov greeted.
"We need to talk Maky, and you might want a drink for this."