Gajevy/GaLe Week: Prompt #3 - Family

Note: I think the actual prompt is for parenthood, but seeing as my story isn't going in the direction right now, I'm adjusting it to family. Enjoy!


"Oh. My. God. Guys, look at this one!"

It was time that they took a job together. She'd been putting priority elsewhere and Levy was starting to get concerned that Jet and Droy would think that she hated them or something. She'd never want them to think that – they were two of her very best friends! She could talk to them about anything – er, almost anything. Girl talk was still exclusively a Lucy topic and Levy was glad she had her to run to when she needed to. Especially about this whole "liking Gajeel" stuff. It was stressful just thinking about it.

"Hey, this is perfect!"

"Yeah, let's do it!"

Her partners faces showed excitement. They were rearing to get going and it made Levy wonder how many jobs the pair took without her. It made her sad when she thought about the seven years that they had gone, missing her every day, wondering if she was ever going to come back or worse – died. Being a part of the magical community wasn't always the safest thing. Prior to getting stuck on that godforsaken island, Levy remembered times when other guild members had gotten seriously hurt. Hell, she hadn't been safe from on the job injuries either. Then there was that time that Gajeel…..Well, Levy liked to forget that he used to be a part of a rival guild at one point. Those memories were best forgotten.

After all – Gajeel was part of Fairytail now. That made him family. Just like Jet and Droy and Lucy.

"Alright guys! Let's go grab our things! I'm ready to leave and do this, just like the old days!"

Levy was hopping around the guild hall with excitement. Sure, they'd been on a few missions together since her return, but this one actually looked to be a bit challenging. It was going to be awesome and it paid quite a bit of money too!


It wasn't long before the trio was on a train heading south toward Hargeon. They'd decided early on that once they finished the job, they would head over to Akane Beach and utilize those resort tickets they'd gotten for Valentine's Day. A bunch of the other guild members were heading that way as well, so it was likely that they would meet up with them once the job was completed. Lucy had promised Levy that they would have a "girls' day" with the others – Wendy and Erza were both excited to get their nails painted!

"Bye Luc!" Levy had called to her friend prior to leaving the building. "Don't get into too much trouble without me!"

Of course, there would be no telling what kind of trouble Natsu would get her into while Team Shadowgear was out in the field.


A glint of orange caught Droy's eye as he sat on the train with Jet and Levy. He'd been a bit quiet, mainly because he was hungry and that always made him a little grouchy. He didn't want to ruin the mood and he didn't want to ask for food – most of the things they had on the train for snacks couldn't be found on his special diet plan, given to him by Reedus.

Stupid diet. He thought to himself, but the glint of the orange appearing on the soft skin between Levy's breasts kept catching his eye. Levy, noticing the stare down that Droy was giving her, blushed a deep red and cleared her throat.

"Um…Droy? Is there something wrong?"

Levy looked at him, confused at his outright looks at her breasts. It wasn't like him – he'd never been so obvious about it before.

"What?" Droy looked up at Levy for a moment, just as confused as she appeared to be. But it finally dawned on him that the orange glint hadn't been in the most appropriate area of her body. He felt like a pig, although his intentions were hardly sexual in nature.

"Oh, no, don't think that, Levy!" He exclaimed. Jet gave him a sharp glare before Droy started to explain. "I was just wondering if you figured out who gave you the necklace. It kept catching in the sun and I just wanted to let you know that it looks nice on you."

Levy had been wondering the same thing. Actually, she was half convinced that it had been one of them that had given it to her.

"Oh – well, I thought it was one of you guys. You did get this for me, right?"

Levy pulled the long chain out from behind her shirt, letting it dangle down her front. It was a long chain, one that could easily hide whatever was attached to it behind her clothing, which was exactly what she was doing. As she'd promised that night, she'd worn it for the last two days, only taking it off when she slept. But when Levy looked at the faces of her partners, she realized rather quickly – neither of them had gotten it for her.

"Look, as much as I'd like to take credit for this, it wasn't me." Jet stated, crossing his arms.

"And I know I definitely didn't get it for you. I got you that new language book that you have been raving about for the last three weeks." Droy puffed out his chest proudly. Levy smiled at them both. Their gifts had both been sweet – but honestly, she thought they had pulled together and did this for her. It seemed like something they would do. It was a sweet, kind gesture, and honestly, who was sweeter and kinder than these two?

"Huh. That's curious then." Levy's hand grasped the jewel at the bottom. It seemed to warm at her touch.

A whistle sounded, alerting the trio that a stop was coming soon. "Hargeon! Up ahead! Prepare for stop!"


That night, they stayed in a quaint hotel. The guys had gone out of their way to secure two rooms so that Levy could have one to herself. They were right next door though, just in case she needed something in the middle of the night. She appreciated the thought and bid them goodnight shortly after they'd had dinner. A bath was on her mind and she had to mentally prepare herself for this job. Her skills would be necessary tomorrow. A cursed book and someone playing with magic they didn't understand? No problem, right?

Her body enjoyed the hot water as it caressed her skin. She'd left the necklace on and felt it bobbing up and down under the bubbles. She wrapped her hand around it, pulling it up to the surface so that she could look at it. It was beautiful – perfect in every aspect. She ran her fingers over the inscription. It made her smile.


Jet and Droy were truly the loves of her life, weren't they? She could rely on them for just about anything. She'd never have to worry about them flaking on her or going off somewhere and leaving her behind. They were two of a kind and she was so lucky to have them. Her mind flashed back to when they had first met one another. Three small kids without too many friends. They'd all joined around the same time and Levy had immediately taken a liking to them. The older they got, the better they could control their magical skills and when Jet and Droy decided to go out on their first job together, they immediately trailed after Levy.

"Hey you!" Levy remembered hearing from behind her as she walked with a handful of books. "You're Levy, right?"

She smiled brightly – they'd remembered her name! "Yeah, that's me! Do you need help with something?"

"Actually, Master said we're ready for our first job alone. I know you've been out with some of the older members, but how would you like to come with us?"

"You…You want me to come with you?"

"Well, yeah." Jet had said with a bright smile. "We've seen you out training and your magic looks pretty awesome. I think we'd make a good team. Plus, you like the color orange and that makes anyone cool in my book." He'd given her a wink after and the rest was history. It had been the day that Team Shadowgear had been born and the day that she knew that she'd met her lifelong best friends – her family.


Levy sighed and slid deeper into the bath. She had met so many amazing people during her time in Fairytail. God, she was so lucky! Lucy was like the sister that she'd never had. Natsu made her laugh all the time. Erza acted more like her mother than anyone else, and then there was Gajeel.

Gajeel, who made her warm on the inside and threw her for a loop whenever he said something nice to her. He'd hurt her – back when he wasn't in their guild, but he'd never scared her like so many of the other members thought he had. Levy was a small force of nature – she wasn't frightened of anything. She couldn't be. Her size and her strength gave her a slight disadvantage, but she was full of heart and that usually made up for most of her short comings. When Gajeel had taken an attack from Laxus, just to prevent her from getting hit, she knew that she had nothing to fear from him.

Her mind wandered back to that day and to the conversation she'd had with Jet and Droy afterwards.

"That wasn't very nice of you two." Levy pointed her fingers at them, furious that they could treat another member of their guild that way. "You don't understand what he's been through and what he's going through, and yet you two immediately start giving him grief? We're Fairytail wizards, for Christ's sake! Don't act like you don't have any pride or respect for that!"

"But Levy, out of all of us, you're the one who should be the most upset with him! You should have turned him into a lobster the minute you had the chance!"

"Yeah, he hurt you!"

Levy shook her head. "He's human. He's fucking human and he made a goddamn mistake!"


In her tub, Levy sighed again, sliding even deeper and letting her eyes flutter closed. She'd been protecting Gajeel since that day, standing up for him whenever the opportunity presented itself. He probably didn't even know about it.

A crash from the boys' room sent her to her feet. She could hear voices being raised as an argument broke out. Rushing, she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her naked body, her hair wet and sticking her back. She didn't even get the chance to drain the tub.

"HEY. YOU LOSERS TOOK MY JOB!" A deep voice stated, angry by the sounds of it.

"YOUR JOB!? WE PICKED THIS ONE OUT OURSELVES!" Another voice cried out, probably that of Droy.

"YEAH YOU JERK! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU FOLLOWED US HERE OVER A JOB! GET OVER IT, ASSHOLE!"

Levy couldn't stop herself. She threw open the attached door and stepped inside the room.

"What in the hell is going on….!"

Her mind stop working. Gajeel. He was standing right there about to annihilate Jet and Droy. Levy, in a state of shock, vaguely felt her grip loosen on the towel.

"Oh shit."

"Hi Levy."

"Shrimp."

All three of the boys turned their backs, immediately forgetting their argument over the job once her revealing form entered the room. Levy's mouth was opening and closing, but no words could be formed. She realized that the towel was dipping, exposing the top of her breast, so she clutched it to her tightly. The movement caused the necklace to move from behind the cloth, out into the public eye. Levy quickly gained her composure, her finger shooting to Jet and Droy quickly.

"You and You. Rude. Uncalled for. Watch your language. I'll handle this – get rest, you'll need it."

She was angry – more because if Gajeel hadn't shown up, she probably wouldn't feel this embarrassed.

"YOU." Her eyes landed on Gajeel. "IN MY ROOM. NOW."


God, Shrimp was a piece of work, wasn't she? He couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as she turned her back and stomped out of Jet and Droy's room. He hadn't been certain that she would have been here, but honestly, he'd hoped that luck was on his side when he had made the decision to come after them. He knew that it would get him into trouble – hijacking a job like this – but something rubbed him the wrong way about the flier. He'd even said so to Makarov himself.

"Gajeel. It's fine. Don't worry about the job."

That had gotten a cold look from the Iron Dragon Slayer.

"Fine. If you don't like how it sounds, then maybe you should go with them."

And thus, his plan had been formed, although he had to admit, there was probably a better way for him to announce his presence. At least this way, Jet and Droy wouldn't feel like he'd insulted their manhood. Just that there had been some confusion as to who was taking the job back at the guild. That was all.

But damn, Levy sure was cute when she was pissed off. He'd done as he was told, lowering his head to hide his smile the whole damn way. He waited – expecting her to rip into him at any moment, and when that moment finally came, he straightened his back and prepared to look threatening. Except that was impossible. Because Levy was a girl. And she was standing in nothing but a towel and the damn necklace he'd made for her.

Her blush wasn't missed either. Gajeel imagined that she was probably ridiculously embarrassed at the whole situation. She seemed like a bit of a prude, in his opinion. He bet that she'd never been naked around anyone – not even the other girls at the guild. His inner dragon liked that about her. He wanted to be the only to ever see her naked, at least in an intimate setting.

"….AND TO THINK THAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE A GOOD GUY!"

Whoa. He'd totally missed all of her lecture. Where had his mind been? Oh yeah – boobs.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD COME ALL THIS WAY JUST TO TAKE AWAY OUR JOB, WHICH WE TOOK FAIR AND SQUARE!"

Levy was pacing at this point and she was going to burn a hole in the carpet if she wasn't careful.

"Look, shortstack –"

"Gajeel, I don't need you to use those goddamn pet names right now, because lord help me, I'm this close to kicking all three of your asses!"

"FINE. Look, Levy – I only came because Mira told me that the job was still open. So I'd bought my train ticket and was on my way when I overheard Bunny girl telling me that Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum…" He pointed his finger toward the joined door. "Were out doing this damn job. So I'm here to let you know that I'm doing it too."

"Don't you dare call them names, Gajeel!" She was going to hit him. He could see her fists clenching. Had he finally figured out what pushed Levy's buttons?

"And you know what, SHORTSTACK – I am a damn good guy. You watch. You'll need me tomorrow." A serious smirk popped up on his face. "My room is down the hall if you need anything. We leave at 8am so make sure those two know."

He walked to the door, pausing to toss her one last thing over his shoulder.

"That's a nice necklace you got there. Goes great with your hair and your lack of clothes."

Checkmate.


Levy had to take a few deep breaths after Gajeel left. She punched a pillow and toss another one across the room. Who the hell did he think he was? Barging in on a job like that? As if they couldn't handle their own or something? She'd believe that there was a mix up with the guild jobs when there were actually more jobs on the board. There were so few these days that it was hard to mess up who was going where. EVERYONE knew everyone else's business.

Levy walked over to the door that joined her room to the boys'.

"8AM. WE'RE LEAVING. AND YES. GAJEEL IS COMING WITH US."

Her ears heard several groans followed by "Fucking dragon slayer" and "why does he always ruin our fun?" Levy couldn't help but smile to herself. She was glad that they were all on the same page.


Author's Note:

Okay, so I took a different spin on this one. Levy, although petite, looks like she can pack quite a bit of punch when she's angry to me. I can't wait to see how this job goes, can you?

As always, thank you so much for the reviews! They've been wonderfully positive so far and I love hearing your thoughts! I've been debating dragging the story out past the prompts, so we'll see what I can come up with!

Next Prompt: Forbidden