AN: To those who read Fighting Redfox to its satisfying end, thank you! It means a lot. I'm glad that you all enjoyed the story I shared with you! This is another Gajevy multi-chapter story for you! I hope you like it as much as FR!
Storyline: [AU] He's a cop who's had a rough few years. She's an out-of-towner with baggage she wished she could shake. Both have a past they'd rather not talk about. They must save each other from themselves to rediscover what had once given their lives meaning. All while danger hovers. Love and acceptance are only words until proven with action. [Two Plot Convergence] [Crime drama, lemons]
*Rated Mature - There is language and violence, some lemon as well.
*I do not own any of the media.
*I do not own any of FairyTail - that's all Hiro Mashima.
AN: Wow, getting back into this story was odd lol. I had to reread until the ideas I had had came back to me. And they came back mightier, I tell ya! Lots to happen. Idk if it will be as long as Fighting Redfox, but it will be involved just like that one.
Thanks for your patient waiting! I had to finish my other Gajevy fic, and I'm so glad I did. Don't forget to check that out if you haven't already! I'll be honest: reviews are a part of my motivation, and the more I get, the faster I chug these chapters out (also according to my real life schedule too). I really appreciate it and the time it took for you to pause and write however long of a review. It seriously means a lot.
And a special thanks to KMMCM for making a Fighting Redfox banner out of the goodness and creativeness of their heart! It was truly a great surprise! Thank you so much! You are awesome! You all can find it on tumblr under either of our usernames here or on my pinterest (link to that on my tumblr) because I did save that under Gajeel & Levy. :) Thanks again for your talents and time!
CHAPTER 3 - By Steps
The numbers on the alarm clock changed, signaling the built-in radio to start playing. Gajeel was already awake. He had been for a few minutes. Laying there, he listened to the music for a minute before reaching up to turn it off. He swung himself out of bed with a yawn. He stretched as he made his way down the hall, stopping at an open door to peer inside the room.
The little girl was sound asleep in her toddler bed. She had graduated from the crib not long ago. Wooden guards were set up by the pillow to keep her from falling out in case she rolled in her sleep. He felt bad for having to wake her, but he had to get her ready to go.
Sitting down on the mattress, Gajeel leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Time to wake up."
He pulled the covers back a little as his two year old daughter stirred awake. Her dark copper hair was tousled and a small cowlick parted her hair in the back where she had been laying. A yawn escaped her as she focused on her father. "No..."
"Yes. I have to go to work." He murmured, smoothing over her hair with a large hand.
He patiently waited as she sat up and rubbed her eye with tiny fingers, then gathered a shirt and pants from her dresser. He placed the pink pants on the sheets and faced her, ready to stick her head and arms through the pink shirt.
"Uh-oh. I go potty." Penny said quickly. Her large blue eyes widened.
"Ok, go. Hurry." Gajeel replied, picking her up and setting her feet down on the floor. He was pleased that she was finally telling him when she had to go to the bathroom. Potty training was easier with the advice Mira had given him.
She shuffled out of the room to the bathroom across the hall. Waiting on her, he hoped that she could do it herself. He leaned his head in around the door, checking on her. "How you doing?"
She hummed an answer, but struggled with her clothing. "Daddy…"
After helping her with her new pull ups and holding her up at the sink to wash her hands, he then was finally able to get her dressed and carried her to the kitchen. She laid her head on his shoulder.
"What do you want for breakfast?" He asked, still holding her in front of the cabinets. Her short legs tried to wrap around his torso, only to kick free and bounce back up to his side.
Her soft hair brushed against his face as she shook her head.
"You gotta eat something, sweetie."
"Nuh-uh…" She rubbed her eye again.
"Do you want Mira to cook you something when we get there?" He inquired again, on the verge of giving up on prompting her. Mira always made sure Penny had everything she needed during the day while he was gone.
"Yea!" Penny's eyes lit up and she vigorously nodded.
"Alright. You'll eat at Mira's. But you still have to brush your teeth now."
"I don' wanna!" She cried and kicked him in the back with her heel, her other foot barely missing his crotch. He tensed, letting out a quick breath in relief and held her leg to keep it from hitting him. The shrill tone of her voice pierced his ears.
He silently walked to the bathroom and set her on the counter so she was sitting facing him. Plucking her tiny princess toothbrush from the holder, he put a minute sized drop of toothpaste on the bristles. "Brush 'em."
She began to pout, but he shook his head. "Do it, baby. You're not getting down until those teeth are white." He said firmly. He crossed his arms as she weakly began to brush, ultimately making Gajeel finish it for her.
The sweet little girl opened her mouth and clamped her jaws together, her small teeth clacking. She made the "cheese" sound, which caused her father to chuckle.
With Penny all ready for the day and contentedly watching morning cartoons, Gajeel hurriedly threw his black work uniform into his department issue duffel and pulled a t shirt over his bare torso, the hem covering the top of his sweats at his waist. He appeared in the living room and turned off the tv. "Alright, come on. Let's get."
Securing his precious cargo into her carseat, he stuffed the duffle bag into the passenger seat beside him and backed the car out of the drive. The sky was still dark in the early hours of the morning. Street lights were still lit and a few vehicles were out, no doubt on the way to morning shifts at the local businesses. Gajeel looked up into the rearview. Penny's eyes were closed, her head resting against the side of the seat.
Laxus opened the front door just as Gajeel pulled up. He sipped at a cup of coffee wearing grey sweats and a t shirt. He watched as his partner carried a sleepy Penny up the walk along with her play bag full of essentials.
"Got you a cup, it's on the counter." Laxus murmured. He held the door open for them.
Gajeel grunted in answer. He laid Penny on the couch, covering her up with the throw blanket folded on the back. His voice raising slightly, thinking Mira was in the kitchen. "She's got extra pull-ups in the bag. She's learning, but has accidents sometimes. She's not had any breakfast either."
"I will make sure she eats." A female voice answered. Mira appeared from the hall after he spoke. She wiped at her mouth with a finger.
Gajeel straighten to his full height in time to see it. It was an action she hardly ever made. He raised an eyebrow. "...You alright there?"
"Mhm. I'm fine. Just a little morning sickness, is all." She softly chimed. Her smile widened as she glanced to her husband.
"Really now? Congratulations." Gajeel grinned, briefly drawing Mira into a quick hug.
Her lips spread into a larger smile. "Thank you. I'm finally going to be a mother!"
Gajeel gave Laxus a knowing glance and quickly went to retrieve his coffee, hearing footsteps continue behind him. The blond man's face held a lazy expression and gingerly sipped at the hot liquid.
"A dad, huh." Gajeel casually stated and blew at the coffee before drinking it.
"Still surreal."
"It must be early then." His eyes had shifted to Mira's midsection when she told him, but there was no sign of a bump.
"She told me after my shift yesterday. She used four of those pee sticks. All positive."
There was a glint in his partner's eyes. Laxus frowned, knowing something smart was going to be the next thing out of Gajeel's mouth. "Whatever you're gonna say, you better swallow it. Drink the rest of your damn coffee so we can head out."
The smile never left the dark haired man.
"It only took you two years." Gajeel simply stated, nonchalant. His face turned smug.
In the two that it took for Laxus and Mira to expect their own child, he had already had to deal with sleepless nights, changing soiled diapers, and crying and screaming. Alone. He learned and managed to hide his emotions in the deep well that was his mind. Since that night, no one had been able to see far enough into the dark to find the light on the other side.
"Shut up, asshole." Laxus growled and rolled his eyes. He effortlessly punched Gajeel in the shoulder before they made their way to the front door, their cups placed in the sink for Mira to wash later.
Pausing only to kiss Penny's forehead, Gajeel headed out the door, with Laxus in tow after kissing his wife goodbye for the day. They headed for Gajeel's car, carpooling to work. Both of them were silent, content to listen to the radio's music and let the coffee kick in. A twelve hour shift was going to be a long day.
Once at the station, they did their morning routine of physical workouts, used the locker room showers as well as changed into their black uniforms for their shift, and inspected their police issued weapons for their safety while on duty. They were ready to roll out in time to start their patrol. It was still a little dark out; the streetlamps lit the station's large back lot.
Walking to their assigned white and gold vehicle, Laxus tossed the keys to Gajeel. "Your turn to drive."
The black haired man grunted as he caught and palmed them, then slid into the driver's seat to start checking the car's technical components. He flipped the switch to see if the lights were still in working condition. Blue and red flashed across the side of the building for a brief moment. He glanced to Laxus. "Where we headed today, boss?"
The blond flipped through the papers in his hands as he turned on the laptop. "Do you mean for lunch?"
Gajeel gave him a look as he quickly tested the siren as well.
Grinning, Laxus turned the computer towards him. "I'd figure we'd head over to Dave's. Every Wednesday he has that special."
At the innocent mention of that name, Gajeel inwardly stiffened, his eyes staring into space. That meant he might see Levy. He hadn't thought about her since he'd met her a few days prior. A large part of him wanted to see her again; she was really pretty, and it had been a long while since he had thought that about any woman.
"Alright fine. Where are we headed today?" He asked again.
Laxus sighed. "South side. The shit hole."
Gajeel pursed his lips. It wasn't exactly the best neighborhood to be wearing the badge. Seeing that the patrol car was in working order, he turned the engine over. The Charger came to life with a deep rumble. He guided the vehicle towards the street and turned onto it to officially begin their workday.
Levy sat on the padded table, still in the white hospital gown. Her wetted eyes wandered around the room and all of the medical posters. Her body lightly shook from excitement and anticipation. It made her tense up at the noises beyond the closed doorway. This was not what she had wanted to do with her day. How did she end up here? What made her stay with the ungrateful idiot? Was it because she was afraid of him? Or afraid of Zachary?
The door to the small examination room opened abruptly and the doctor came in, a small, comforting smile set on her face. She held Levy's file in her arms as she addressed her. "There is nothing but good news. You're not pregnant, Miss McGarden. But I'd take it easy for a while," her expression turned neutral. "What he did was not your fault. Don't ever think it was. It was one of the most vile things to do to another human being."
Levy nodded and tried to smile, but her muscles wouldn't let her. "W-what about the other tests?"
"They came back clean. Physically you are sound, but are still feeling the affects. Just take it easy for a week. If you need a few counselling rounds, I do suggest the office across the street. They'll have you in and out in a jiffy."
Levy pursed her lips and nodded. "Ok. Thank you."
The doctor gave her another compassionate smile and the card for the counseling. She left the room to give her the privacy to change into her clothes. After she slipped her shoes on her feet, Levy stood there for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. Her insides quaked, the air caught in her lungs. Even though everything was clear and normal, she still felt gross. She felt like a dull, used up doll. Like no one would ever want her.
She opened her eyes. They glistened with moisture.
How many times would this happen? She couldn't stay with Mike. He was abusive. Not to mention that Zachary was always around and it had made her nervous even before what had happened. She couldn't go home. Her environment there was not good at all. They'd eventually break her if she continued like nothing had occurred.
She had to leave.
As she gathered her purse and her keys, she left the room and headed for the sliding doors of the exit. Her mind barely registered the people she passed; the nurses, the patients, a baby held by her mother at the registration desk; she was already at the house, packing up all of her things before Mike got home from work.
The sunlight hit her as she stepped outside. It was a beautiful morning, and she wished she could feel it. Though it was as if she was numb to anything outside her own hurt buried inside her fragile frame. Her eyes scanned her surroundings as she got into her red car. She drove through the parking lot. A sheriff car sat in one of the lanes.
She smiled and waved as she passed the officer's car. He nodded to her and watched her wait at the red light. Levy knew she should have called the police on Zachary that night. Fear of what she could be subjected to kept her silent. It was after the fact now. If she went to the police now, it would just be a 'he said, she said' match and would waste everyone's time.
As she turned into the drive, she glanced at down towards the house. No one was home. The property looked empty. Peaceful. For once in her life, she was glad there were no horses or other animals there. She didn't have the truck or the trailer to haul them if they were. And she wouldn't have left them behind. She would have found a way.
Instead of getting the mail and setting it on the table as she usually did, Levy went inside and immediately went upstairs to her room. She didn't have a lot of possessions, but she mentally made a list of all that she did have. She hastily grabbed her orange backpack from the bottom of the closet and began to stuff materials from her dresser into its spacious pockets.
Filling her backpack and her laundry basket with all of her clothing and her horse throw blanket, she put what jewelry, hygiene products, and other various items she had and quickly arranged them for easy carrying. She had no idea where to go, but anything was better than being there. It was not happening again.
Levy shouldered her backpack and carefully toted the basket and bag down the stairs. She loaded her car, then shut the back door and looked into her reflection in the window. Her fingers pointed at the vehicle as she remembered what she forgot.
In the mudroom, she grabbed her Ariats and the lead rope dangling above it. She knocked the boots together to crack off the dried mud, not caring the bits of dirt fell apart over the floor to make a mess. She glanced to the cabinet above the dryer unit. There was an old coffee can she saved for loose change, but had begun to store extra cash in it out of boredom. Knowing there was no time to count it, she took the whole thing and set all three objects on the passenger seat.
Down the drive, Levy's mind began to panic. What did she think she was doing? She was leaving a home! No, that house, was not a home. There was a difference. Nevertheless, she was leaving the only shelter she knew. Tears streamed down her cheeks, staining her skin and she couldn't get them to stop. Her mind quickly recalled the contacts in her phone. There were a few people she could perhaps stay with for the time being until she got a new job.
Though most of those specific contacts lived in different parts of the state.
Remembering she had friends who lived a few hours away, Levy checked to see that she had enough fuel and headed for the interstate. Taking another deep breath to calm her fraying nerves, she decided to drive. Run the car until it was near empty. Even if she found herself lost, she'd eventually find where she should go. She'd find her life again.
She'd just drive.
"Unit Fourteen to dispatch," his voice spoke lazily, relaying their status to the station from the radio.
"Fourteen, go ahead." The dispatcher's voice crackled on his shoulder. She used the vehicle identification number to identify the unit. Her sheet with the officers' names assigned to each patrol vehicle was laid out before her. The radio made a quick tone before going silent.
Gajeel thumbed the device on his shoulder to respond as he drove up behind a speeding vehicle. He quickly shifted to park several feet behind their target, leaving the light cycle above them on to keep other passing drivers aware. His radio made the same tone when the talk button was pressed. "Highway 20, southbound. A black Cobalt. 10-38, it didn't look like it would."
"10-4. Officers 10-6." The calm female voice replied over the channel and so that other units in the county would know their unit was occupied while they listened to radio traffic.
Gajeel opened the door and slid out. He casually walked towards the car ahead of him. His red eyes scanned his surroundings before brushing his fingers on the red tail light and approaching the driver's door. The window was rolled down and he could see hands on the wheel. Stopping at the door, he bent at the waist, peering into the vehicle.
"Afternoon miss," he said pleasantly. Noting the patient uncertainty on the young woman's face, he continued in an easy tone. "I clocked you doing ten over back there."
She glanced towards her dash, her eyes widening. "Oh, oh sorry. I wasn't looking."
"You wanna tell me why you didn't stop when I flipped on the lights?" He relaxed a little bit as he conversed with her. His training enabled him to see a threat before it manifested inside a person, and this girl was not one.
The woman's gaze returned to him, and immediately dropped her eyes. Red slowly entered her cheeks. "My mother told me to find a good place to stop if I was ever pulled over. It's not a ditch now."
She vaguely pointed with her finger towards the right side of the road. It was a flat section of ground, where several hundred feet back was a ditch. Gajeel nodded as he looked at her. Her mother had good advice. "Alright, it's not a problem. Where you headed?"
"My dad's. He lives down the next road."
He smiled. "I need your driver's license and proof of insurance first, then I'll get you on your way."
He patiently waited while she retrieved what he had asked for and then strode back to the car after she handed them over. Once inside and sitting, Laxus turned to him. "What ya got for me?"
"Driver's young." Gajeel murmured. He handed the information over to him. He watched as Laxus entered what was in his hands into the computer.
"Eh, she's just a kid."
"Sixteen, she's barely had her license for six months," Gajeel squinted at the screen as he commented. He leaned back in the seat. "No priors. She was just listening to loud music I bet."
Laxus shook his head, holding the cards out to Gajeel, then moved the computer's stand away from him. "Probably the first time she's been stopped too. I'm hungry. Just give her a warning so we can go back to town for some food."
Taking the information back with a snort, Gajeel retorted. "All you think about is your damn stomach."
The blond frowned, feigning an appalled expression. The corners of his lips couldn't hide the grin. "Not true. I think about other things."
"Like what?" Gajeel asked as he climbed out of the car. He didn't expect an answer. The two men were alike in similar ways.
"Things that are none of your business." Laxus jested. He pulled his sunglasses over his eyes.
"Uh-huh."
With the license and insurance card given back to the driver, Gajeel gave her a verbal warning and walked towards the patrol car. The cobalt drove off, careful to remain under the speed limit as it gained distance.
The two officers reported what had occurred, as well as typed it on the computer for their daily log. They drove through town. Once the red light turned green, Gajeel guided the car to the parking spaces in front of their favorite lunch spot.
Their hour break was after the lunch rush that came through every week day. Dave saw them come in as he wiped down a table. "Right on time. I can bet on it just about every time."
Laxus greeted him with a raise of his hand. "And I bet you're pretty damn rich."
"You two're the reason I created the Wednesday special." The cafe owner replied happily. He briskly walked behind the counter, picking up an order ticket from habit and wrote down their usuals. The two officers sat down on the stools at the main counter.
Gajeel's eyes scanned the spacious building. He glanced into the kitchen, seeing familiar employees, but not the one he sought. He looked at Dave. "Levy working today?"
Dave shifted his gaze from the ticket. "It's her day off. Said she was going to try to work with Gladiolus some."
"Gladiolus?"
"My new horse," Dave explained as he put the ticket through to the kitchen. "I rescued him from a livestock auction. He was half starved, scared shitless of people. I'm fairly sure he was abused."
Gajeel narrowed his eyes. His mind's eye picture Levy trying to calm a large, frightened beast. "And you trust the horse with her?"
Dave chuckled and wiped his hands on his dirty apron. "No. I trust her with him. She's got a way with animals. Always has."
Nodding, Gajeel asked, "When did you get him?"
"A few months ago. He still won't come up to me. He's set up camp at the back of the pasture."
"How'd you get him to the farm then?" Laxus inquired, now somewhat interested in the story.
"With difficulty. It took us over an hour to get him in the trailer," Dave laid his hand on the countertop. "The only thing I'm worried about is Levy getting close and getting kicked or something. I know she volunteered to come out and help, but it's going to be a big job."
"Sounds like a dangerous one." Laxus replied.
Gajeel agreed. He didn't know her that well and he knew next to nothing about horses, but he was interested. Levy had struck him and a spark had ignited the dying ember within him.
"I couldn't do it. Give me a gun and a radio, I'll patrol all day. But an animal that could easily kill you on a whim? No, thank you." Laxus was saying.
"What does she usually eat?" Gajeel asked suddenly. He looked from the tv in the corner to the man behind the counter.
Dave seemed confused. "Who? Gladiolus? He's a male-"
"Not the horse. I mean Levy."
"Oh right, I don't know. I've never seen her not like anything on the menu. Why?"
Gajeel knocked Laxus' arm with his, his attention quickly focusing on the cafe's owner. "Whip something up for her too, and we'll take it to go."
The blond glanced up from his phone. "We will?"
Dave nodded, following Gajeel line of thought. He smiled. "Alright. I'm sure she'd like that. I haven't heard from her all morning."
Laxus sighed. "I'll go, but I actually want to enjoy my lunch break. I'm not getting out of the car. I don't want to risk mixing farm smells with what I'll be eating."
"You don't have to."
Gajeel tried not to fidget as they waited for their food. His stomach growled. His mind had been centered on eating until they'd stepped into the cafe. Now he was more excited to see a pretty bluenette. His phone vibrated against his leg in his pocket. Pulling out the phone, he opened the text.
It was a picture of his daughter playing outside with Mira on the back porch. Penny's smile was wide, her copper hair flying behind her with the breeze. She looked so much like her mother, it physically hurt his chest to stare at the picture for too long. There was a mix of happiness and sadness. The two emotions mingled together in a sort of pleasant way and it made a tingle run down his arms to his legs. It was good that she reminded him of Katherine. But he also felt the need to move on.
How could he move on when he felt guilty? How could he begin again with someone new? It was almost like it wasn't fair. But what she did to him… that wasn't fair either. None of it was. Certainly not to their daughter. Glancing at the picture one more time, Gajeel knew he had to try for Penny.
If it meant moving on after two years, then he would. It was easier said than done, he knew. But he would.
