Sum: She didn't look old enough to be a lawyer.
Gajeel glared at the mirror, knowing that Rogue was standing on the other side. Mocking him.
Fuckin' hell.
It was all Salamander's fault that he was in here, handcuffed to a table. The minute he heard the sirens he'd made a dash for it, leaving Gajeel to deal with the mess. And they hadn't even done anything illegal … this time. But apparently just being on the scene of a crime, even if it was one he hadn't committed, made him guilty.
If only that damn detective didn't have it out for him.
The door swung open and said detective walked in. Rogue Cheney. A giant pain in Gajeel's ass.
"Ryos," Gajeel growled, using the name Rogue had gone by back when they'd been in the same gang. It had been years ago, but Rogue stiffened at the reminder of his past.
"Gajeel. Your attorney arrived."
Gajeel arched a brow and sat back in the chair. He knew for a fact he hadn't called anyone, which meant Natsu had run back to Master. Good, that meant he'd be out of here in no time.
But the girl that stepped into the room couldn't be his attorney. She didn't look old enough to be out of high school, what with her too wide eyes and blue hair. Were lawyers even allowed to have blue hair?
She barely even glanced in his direction as she entered, instead all of her attention was on Rogue. She smiled, all sweetness and innocence, and Gajeel almost snorted.
"Detective Cheney," she murmured. "It's a pleasure to see you again, although I do wish the circumstances were different."
"Ms. McGarden." Rogue smiled, but the smile was gone when he glanced in Gajeel's direction. "I'm sorry you got stuck with him."
She laughed, the sound light and airy, and Gajeel scowled at the both of them. If he really wanted to he could be out of those handcuffs and the room before they could stop him.
"Would it be alright if you gave me a moment alone with my client?"
"Of course." Rogue moved to the door, pausing to shoot a glare in Gajeel's direction. "Don't try anything."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Gajeel murmured, watching as Rogue left, the door clicking shut behind him. Once he was gone the girl turned to face him, her hands on her hips and a small frown tugging at her lips.
"Gajeel Redfox. 26 years old. Arrested for trying to steal a car."
"As I told the damn detective, it wasn't me," he huffed, scowling at her. "We'd been walking by when we saw some guy trying to break in and scared him off, but by then the alarm was already going off and someone had called the cops. I didn't do anything."
She sat in the chair across from him, resting her elbows on the table. "I know."
Gajeel was surprised by her answer. Most people saw his scowl and his piercings and assumed that he was a mass murdering drug dealer, but she seemed to have complete faith that he was innocent.
Interesting.
"You seem to know an awful lot about me, but I don't even know your name."
She laughed again and leaned back in her chair, resting her hands in her lap. "I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I'm Levy McGarden."
She grinned and it made her look so innocent and young that Gajeel snorted. "Aren't ya a bit young to be a lawyer?"
"Aren't you a bit young to have such an impressive record?"
He curled his lip, but her smile didn't even waver.
"Mr. Redfox, you might not have committed this crime, but they have enough against you to make you pay for it. My job is to make sure you walk away clean, and let me assure you –" She leaned forward, her hands gripping the edge of the table and her smile falling away. "I'm good at my job."
He stared at her and she stared back, her gaze unwavering until finally he leaned back, a smirk playing at his lips.
"Well then, I leave my fate in your hands. Hope you don't disappoint me."
And she grinned back with a fierceness in her eyes that made his heart stutter and his smirk grow.
"I won't."
